Ep 14. Smoking Gun

The episode Smoking Gun of Forensic Files II season 2 delves into the murder case of an African-American man named Darin Galloway, who was shot nine times in a parking lot in Ohio. His family believes that the reason behind the murder is a hate crime, and they are seeking justice for Darin.

The case is immediately taken over by the Hamilton County Sheriff’s Office, and the investigating officers start gathering evidence from the crime scene. They find several shell casings from a 9mm gun, and using the forensic examination of these items, they are able to identify the markings on the casings that suggest that they were fired from a particular model of a gun manufactured by Hi-Point.

Further investigation leads the police to Dennis Davis, who is believed to be involved in the murder. Dennis is a known criminal with an extensive history of violence, and he seems to have a motive for killing Darin, as he had previously made some comments about wanting to kill a black person.

During the interrogation, Dennis denies having anything to do with the murder, but the evidence against him is strong, and the police arrest him, charging him with the murder of Darin Galloway.

At the trial, the prosecution presents a strong case against Dennis, using the forensic evidence gathered from the crime scene, as well as testimony from several eyewitnesses who saw Dennis near the parking lot where Darin was killed. The defense argues that the forensic evidence is not conclusive, and that Dennis is being singled out because of his criminal history, but the jury finds him guilty of the murder, and he is sentenced to life in prison.

The episode then delves into the aftermath of the trial and the impact that the murder had on Darin’s family and the wider African-American community. The family expresses their relief at the conviction of Dennis, but also their frustration that the crime was not classified as a hate crime, and the issue of racial violence is not addressed.

In the end, the episode emphasizes the importance of forensic evidence in solving crimes and bringing justice to victims and their families. It also highlights the need for a more comprehensive approach to dealing with hate crimes and racial violence.