Mpls. cops: New tool can trace bullet casing marks back to gun

Minneapolis Police on Tuesday showed off a new piece of equipment they hope will help catch more people who use guns to commit crimes.

The IBIS machine creates three-dimensional, high-definition images of the unique markings left on the casings by the firing pins of guns. Those marks are similar to fingerprints and won't get worn away after repeated use of the gun, department firearms technician Tim Sittlow said.

The device is also connected to the National Integrated Ballistic Information Network so police can compare images collected from casings from around the state and the country.

The ability to accurately match the casings left behind at a shooting or set of shootings can provide valuable leads, said Deputy Chief Kris Arneson.

Guns are often passed around between gang members but often the technology alone cannot connect guns to offenders, Arneson added.

Earlier this summer, Chief Janeé Harteau announced a new initiative that will assign a pair of officers to concentrate on investigating shots fired calls in north Minneapolis. Arneson said the officers will not only look for casings left behind from a shooting, but will knock on doors in the area of the gunfire.

Police officials say the new IBIS machine costs $300,000 and was paid for by the federal Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives. It replaces an older system which wasn't as advanced as the current one.