The Magic Bullet: Ballistics (24:00)
In a tragic accident, teenager Trey Cooley was shot in the head in the lobby of his father’s gun club by a misfired bullet from the outdoor range. In this program, police experts use numerous forensic techniques to unravel this extraordinarily complex manslaughter case. Ballistics, laser technology, scale modeling, and computer animation are used to re-create the path of the errant bullet, which traveled through, over, and between numerous obstacles only to ricochet into the body of the victim. (24 minutes)
Accidental Death (03:38) A fourteen-year old boy dies from a bullet to the head as he sits in a gun club's designated safety area.
Investigation: Firearms Examiner (05:02) Detectives must determine where the bullet that killed Trey Cooley came from. A firearms examiner determines the bullet is handmade, and an examination of all the outdoor firing range guns finds the gun that shot the fatal bullet.
Investigative Team (05:17) An accident reconstructionist uses laser survey equipment to trace the path of the fatal bullet. Dozens of potentially fatal safety flaws and violations are uncovered at the firing range.
Forensic Animation (03:44) Meticulous measurements and computer graphics show how the bullet was released from the shooter's gun and the deadly path it took.
Forensic Proof (04:37) The investigative team explains and demonstrates Trey Cooley's "tragically unbelievable" death. The Cooley's file suit against the gun club and individuals involved, using convincing forensic animation to prove liability.