Which of the following can be used to determine the approximate position of the shooter?

Understanding the approximate position of a shooter at a crime scene is vital in reconstructing events and establishing a timeline. Cartridge cases can provide critical information regarding the shooter's location for several reasons.

Cartridge cases can indicate the type of firearm used, which often correlates with a specific shooting angle and distance. By analyzing the ejection pattern of the cartridge cases, investigators can determine the direction from which the bullet was fired. Most firearms eject spent casings in a consistent manner based on their design, which means that the location of these casings can help point investigators toward the likely position of the shooter relative to the victim.

Furthermore, the forensic analysis of cartridge cases can reveal unique markings that are left by the firing mechanism of a firearm, which can also link specific guns to particular incidents. This kind of ballistic analysis is crucial in understanding not only where the shooter may have been, but also in connecting the event to potential suspects or firearms involved.

While clothing fibers, witness statements, and footprint analysis can also provide context or information about the crime, they do not directly indicate the position of the shooter as clearly as cartridge cases do. Clothing fibers might help link a suspect to a scene, witness statements provide subjective observations that might vary, and footprint analysis may give indications