Last year, there were over 340,000 victims of gunfire-related violent crime in the United States. That’s one victim every 2 minutes. As public safety agencies work with organizations and their communities to reduce this level of gun violence, first responders have the challenging task of reducing potential damage from the incidents that do occur.
This challenge is exacerbated by the fact that, in a number of cases, first responders do not have the data necessary to arrive in time to prevent further injury or loss of life.
At ShotSpotter, we are proud to offer a tool that improves the level of gunfire intelligence afforded to public safety agencies. ShotSpotter data is used by our customers on a daily basis to increase the chances that lives will be saved and perpetrators will eventually be brought to justice.
This month’s “success of the month” post highlights an incident where a young man was assaulted by several men, resulting in a gunshot wound to his neck. A ShotSpotter GLS alert brought first responders to the scene, where they were able to administer aid that may have prevented further injury.
In the early morning hours of a populous city, a shot rang out.
Listen to the gunfire
Within seconds, police dispatch received a ShotSpotter alert and sent responding officers to the scene. Upon arrival, officers discovered a 20-year-old man bleeding from the mouth. The victim explained that he had been assaulted by two to three men, and was injured.
Location of the incident as shown on the ShotSpotter Public Safety Console (PSC)
The victim was rushed to a nearby hospital where X-rays found a bullet lodged in the back of his neck. Following treatment, the victim is expected to make a recovery.
Like many other incidents of this type, timely aid may have made the difference between the young man being a victim or a casualty.
Source: U.S. Department of Justice, National Crime Victimization Report 2008.
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.
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.
You’ve no doubt heard the term “the first 48”, referring to the two days following a homicide when detectives are most likely to locate crucial leads and evidence. Police who respond to gunfire also focus on the first 48, but in their world, it’s in seconds. Simply put, the sooner that officers can arrive on scene, the greater chance that suspects will be captured, weapons will be confiscated, and crucial evidence will be collected.
In this month’s blog entry, we highlight a real-world example of how rapid police response assisted by ShotSpotter GLS data, lead to the arrest of three gang members and the confiscation of three illegal firearms.
In a west coast city, at approximately 2 am, police dispatch received a ShotSpotter GLS alert notifying them of multiple shots fired.
Listen to the gunfire:
A nearby officer was immediately dispatched to the scene and arrived in time to spot a car speeding recklessly around a corner. As the officer pursued the suspect, the driver attempted to flee across a bridge to a neighboring city. The officer, now assisted by back up, maintained close pursuit until the suspect’s vehicle eventually slammed into a curb blowing out the car tires. Immediately after crashing, three adult males exited the car and a foot chase ensued. Fortunately, a perimeter had been set up by members of six different police precincts, and the suspects had nowhere to run. Police apprehended the men who were later determined to be gang members. They were arrested and three illegal firearms were confiscated.
Location of the incident as shown on the ShotSpotter Public Safety Console (PSC)
Following the successful arrest of the suspects, police used ShotSpotter GLS data to return to the scene of the original shooting where they obtained bullet casings that will support prosecution efforts.
In the above situation, seconds truly mattered, as the rapid police response allowed the responding officer to witness the fleeing car, enabling an eventual capture of the suspects.
Had officers been dispatched from the lone 9-1-1 call, coming in a full minute after the ShotSpotter alert, the outcome could have been much different.
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.
In last month’s blog entry, we wrote about how first responders use ShotSpotter Gunshot Location System (GLS) data to quickly locate and assist gunshot victims. The same comprehensive incident information and rapid response also increase arrests and confiscations. This month’s example comes from the southeast and features the arrest of a gunman with several outstanding warrants, and the confiscation of an illegal firearm.
At approximately 10:30am, 25 rapid gunshots fired from an automatic rifle cut through the morning air. Listen to the gunfire:
Within seconds, the city’s ShotSpotter GLS alerted police dispatchers to a multiple-shots fired incident on 1st Street.
Location of the incident as shown on the ShotSpotter Public Safety Console (PSC)
Officers were quickly dispatched, and arrived on scene in time to locate the gunman as he was fleeing. After a quick pursuit, a young male suspect was apprehended without incident. After taking the gunman into custody, they discovered he had multiple warrants out for his arrest. Police searching the scene also uncovered an illegal rifle and ammunition.
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.
The greatest benefit of ShotSpotter technology is that it helps law enforcement and first responders save lives. From day one, this has been the driving force behind our company, and our efforts to continually improve our technology and develop new products. A recent example of the life-saving benefits of the ShotSpotter GLS comes from a crime hot spot in a populous west coast city.*
At approximately 2am, a furious gun battle erupted lasting over 20 seconds. Click below to listen to the jaw-dropping audio clip.
Within seconds, the city’s ShotSpotter GLS system detected the incident, classified it as multiple gunshots and sent the information and location to police command center. After reviewing the incident data, police dispatch notified officers in the area to a precise intersection where the gun battle occurred.
Location of the incident as shown on the ShotSpotter Public Safety Console (PSC)
Upon arriving at the scene, officers spotted two victims, both suffering from gunshot wounds. One victim was severely injured, but was medevaced in time to save his life. Thanks to accurate gunshot location data provided by the ShotSpotter GLS along with rapid response from police and first responders, a tragic situation was avoided.
Amazingly, even after such an intense, extended shootout, not one 9-1-1 call was received.
Plot of the location of each round fired. Source: ShotSpotter forensic report.
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.
May 2009, 5:30pm - Multiple shots ring out in a west coast city.
Within seconds, the ShotSpotter GLS detects the incident and classifies it as multiple gunshots. Audio and visual data are sent by the GLS to police command center.
Police dispatch reviews the incident data and notifies nearby officers to look at the side of the residence. Officers on scene locate two weapons leaning up against the house; an SKS rifle with the butt-end sawed off and a semi-automatic pistol. A search of the residence turns up a second handgun. The weapons are confiscated and submitted for fingerprinting to determine whether they are connected to other crimes.
In a trend that is all too common in urban areas, only one 9-1-1 call is received, and it arrives 20 minutes after the incident.
Thanks to solid police work and the comprehensive incident data from the ShotSpotter GLS, additional threats have been removed from our streets.
Weapons confiscated
SKS rifle with butt-end sawed off
Semi-automatic handgun
Semi-automatic handgun
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.
April 2009, 1:13am - A gunshot disrupts an evening in an east coast city.
Within seconds, the ShotSpotter Gunshot Location System (GLS) classifies the incident as a single gunshot. Shortly thereafter, incident location and audio data are sent to the police command center via the ShotSpotter PSC software. Dispatcher reviews the incident data and dispatches officers to a popular downtown bar.
Police arriving at the scene spotted 10 to 12 people gathered outside the bar, including an individual who was drinking a beer. When police asked those in the group to remove their hands from their pockets, the beer-drinking patron ran to the rear door of the bar. As the suspect fled, police noticed a handgun tucked into his waistband.
Police caught up with the suspect and a violent struggle for the weapon ensued. Other officers arriving on scene were able to help subdue and arrest the suspect. Police confiscated a .357-caliber Smith & Wesson handgun with five live rounds and located a spent shell.
Thanks to solid police work and the ShotSpotter GLS, another threat was removed from our streets.
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.
March 2009, 1:43am - A gunshot cuts through a late night in the northeast.
Within seconds, ShotSpotter GLS classifies the incident as a single gunshot. Shortly thereafter, incident location and audio data are sent to the police command center via the ShotSpotter PSC software. Dispatcher reviews the incident data and dispatches officers to a known crime hot spot in the south end of town.
Upon arrival, police observed three men walking in front of the incident address. Police approached one of the men who was walking alone with his hand inside his jacket pocket. After stopping the man, police discovered that he was carrying a semiautomatic handgun and wearing a bulletproof vest. The gun was still warm from being fired. A second man was observed throwing a handgun into the snow. That man was also arrested and found to be wearing a bulletproof vest.
Local police commented that these men were possibly testing weapons prior to committing a more serious crime.
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.
Copyright 2010 ShotSpotter, Inc. All rights reserved.
ShotSpotter Gunshot Location System and the ShotSpotter logo are registered trademarks of ShotSpotter, Inc.
ShotSpotter GLS technology is protected by one or more issued U.S. and foreign patents, with other domestic and foreign patents pending.
