Missing bullets can be identified by ricochet residue at crime scenes

The brand of bullets used in a crime could be identified even when no bullets are found at the scene, by analysing tiny metal scraps they left behind.

Forensics experts may attempt to link a suspect to a crime by analysing bullets or spent bullet casings found at the crime scene and demonstrating they were fired by the suspect’s gun. But doing so when the bullets are not present at the scene – for instance, when they have been removed…