If you have ever solved a large jigsaw puzzle, you know that there are many strategies to completion; start with the corners, look for repeated patterns, organize pieces by color, etc. Now imagine trying to strategize and solve the puzzle when many of the pieces are missing, and with every passing minute, more pieces may disappear (see last month’s post). This sort of challenge is all in a day’s work for Officers, Detectives, Crime Scene Investigators, and Lab Technicians, all of whom work together to bring the pieces of a crime together to create a timely solution.

This month’s post features two seemingly isolated incidents that were connected by agency personnel using ShotSpotter GLS data. In this instance, the ShotSpotter GLS was instrumental in the location of the missing pieces and probable resolution to both incidents.

At nearly midnight in a Midwest city, a drive-by shooting incident was detected and located by the city’s ShotSpotter GLS system.

Listen to the gunfire:

Approximately 45 minutes later, miles away from the previous incident, officers began a high-speed pursuit of a vehicle matching witness description of a car leaving the area of the drive-by shooting.

At the conclusion of the chase, officers were able to arrest the driver. A search of the vehicle turned up a 9mm pistol.

Looking to place the final pieces of the crime, Officers queried their ShotSpotter GLS system to determine the exact location of the drive-by shooting. This data lead officers within feet of the shooting, where they uncovered spent shell casings. This evidence was later confirmed by lab technicians as a match to the confiscated firearm, providing a probable solution to both incidents and a stronger case against the accused.

Location of the incident as shown on the ShotSpotter Public Safety Console (PSC)

Agencies nationwide are realizing the role of technology, including ShotSpotter Gunshot Location Systems, in their efforts to solve and prevent crimes, and ultimately improve the quality of life in their communities.

About the Success of the Month

Each month we feature an incident where a customer’s ShotSpotter Gunshot Location System played an integral role in removing a threat from our streets. The ShotSpotter GLS provides law enforcement with near real-time alerts, aggregated intelligence data, and forensic data that regularly lead to a successful arrests, weapons confiscations and prosecutions.

*Please note that some incident details have been altered to preserve both customer and public privacy.