The ballistics technology used by Colorado Sheriffs helps with the solution of years of cases

In Jefferson County, Erin Mulligan is sitting in her computer in the regional crime Lab of the Colorado County. It's not quite “CSI: Colorado”, but sometimes it can feel that way for you. As a forensic scientist, she works with the national integrated Ballistic Information Network.

“We will log an article here in Colorado,” she told CBS Colorado. “There will be a standard search area that we go through, which will try to link record scenes.”

Practice has been used by law enforcement agencies since the early 2000s and has contributed to making connections between investigations that sometimes span years or across national borders. The police department of Denver and the Jefferson County's Sheriff's police department were on site to solve a crime.

A shootout took place in Arvada in March 2022. Nobody was injured, but evidence was collected from the crime scene, including a ball housing. Nibin tends to use shell covers to exceed the reference manufacturers from weapon manufacturers, to exceed serial numbers and to give the investigators something to work.

“In this software there is a proprietary algorithm that only evaluates the similarity of the markings left behind by the firearm,” said Mulligan.

As a rule, this type of evidence can sit in the Nibin database. Every now and then a link is provided that enables the agencies to reach each other and establish a connection.

“There is a data point from this linked incident in which a light bulb or a connection is established,” said Mulligan.

The police from Denver contacted the Jefferson County's sheriff office. During the examination of another shootout in 2023, DPD sent the housing into its crime laboratory, which also uses Nibin for her ballistics analysis. The database has scored a goal: shooting from Arvada in 2022.

“The investigators can share and work on these testimonies or the details of each of their studies,” added Mulligan.

The suspect Michael Esadcida was arrested and guilty. He was sentenced to 16 years because the ballistics technology achieved a victory for Nibin, law enforcement authorities and public security.