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While we are on the medical stuff, has anybody run across the reference to the bullet fragments.

+ What was their condition when removed

+ Was it, in fact, that unusual for the bullet fragments to be taken to the El Paso lab versus the FBI lab.

+ And most importantly, has anyone run across the exact wording of the ballistic analysis.

What we don't have is exhibits. The testimony is hard to follow without maps, etc. that are being discussed.

On very big problem for Ramos is that his attorney Mary Stillinger STIPULATED that Ramos shot ODA and that the bullet removed from ODA came from his weapon. (I'll see if I can find where this is in the record.) There is no evidence that this is true, and why Stillinger would have done this astonishing thing remains to be seen (stupid, lazy, compromised,?????).

That's why I have asked everyone to please ping me with any testimony that they see on the subject of Ramos actually having shot ODA.

Post 178 was meant for you.

I've come across some discussion on the fragments, in the testimony of the doctor (Col. Winston Warme). His testimony is in Vol 9, starting on page 180. There were 5 small fragments that he left in, and 1 large fragment removed from OAD's right thigh and handed to Chris Sanchez. The majority of this testimony on cross-examination had more to do with the trajectory of the bullet than with the condition of the fragment. (note: this portion is pretty graphic and does show that OAD had a very serious, debilitating injury.)

I haven't read anything in the transcripts yet about what Sanchez did with the bullet fragment.

I'm tracking back through the thread and missed your comment::

And most importantly, has anyone run across the exact wording of the ballistic analysis.

From WND we have the following (although WND did not make available a copy of the report on their website):

The results of the ballistics tests were reported in a letter written by Joseph J. J. Correa, a Criminalist IV with the Texas DPS El Paso Laboratory, March 18, 2005, and addressed to Brian D. Carter of DHS in El Paso.

The letter states Correa examined one fired copper-jacketed bullet presented to him by Carter on March 17, 2005. The letter identifies the victim shot by the bullet as "Osvaldo Aldrete." In the letter, Correa notes that he was asked to determine the manufacture of the firearm that fired the submitted bullet. Correa could not positively identify Ramos's weapon as the one that fired the submitted bullet. His report concludes:

The copper-jacketed bullet was fired from a barrel having six lands and grooves inclined to the right. The manufacturer of the firearm that fired the copper-jacketed bullet is unknown, but could include commonly encountered models of .40 S&W caliber FN/Browning, Beretta, Heckler & Koch, and Ruger pistols.

Correa's report gives no indication the bullet submitted for analysis was disfigured or in fragments, despite having been supposedly extracted from Aldrete-Davila's body after reportedly doing massive damage to his groin area and hitting bone.

The other thing I have seen is this, as included in an affidavit signed by an DHS-OIG Agent (name redacted) on February 18, 2005, and attached to the original Complaint, also dated February 18, 2005:

Ballistics testing confirms a government-issued weapon belonging to U.S. Border Patrol Agent Ignacio "Nacho" Ramos, a 96D Beretta .40 caliber automatic pistol, serial number BER067069M, fired a bullet (a .40 caliber Smith & Wesson jacketed hollow point) which hit the victim in the left buttocks while he was attempting to flee to Mexico.
Source: DHS-OIG Report of Investigation, pdf p.58, para 4.

Also, the DHS-OIG Report provides more info, not only on ballistics, but the timing of things:

On March 17, 2005, DHS OIG agents submitted the bullet extracted from Aldrete-Davila's leg to the Texas Department of Public Safety (DPS), Crime Laboratory, [redacted (b)(7)c] Texas, for analysis. (Exhibit 29)

That same day, DHS OIG and OIA agents exchanged BP weapons with all of the BPAs that worked the day shift on February 17, 2005, but were unable to obtain the weapons for BPAs Ramos, Compean, and [redacted (b)(7)c]. Ramos and [redacted (b)(7)c] were on their regular days off and Compean was on annual leave. [Agent's Note Before submitting the weapons for analysis, DHS OIG had to wait for the ballistic testing of the bullet to determine if it could have come from the same make and model of pistol used by the BP.]

On March 18, 2005, DHS OIG and OIA agents encountered Ramos at his residence and exchanged Ramos' duty weapon with another weapon. DHS OIG agents subsequently submitted Ramos' duty weapon to the Texas DPS Crime Laboratory for analysis. (Exhibit 32)

Source: DHS-OIG Report of Investigation, pdf p.15-16.

Assuming all of these dates are true, recapping this information, with 'facts' found elsewhere in the DHS-OIG ROI, what we have is a fairly incredible sequence of events:

• March 16: A bullet is extracted from the right thigh of OAD at WBAMC by Col. Winston Warme.
• March 16: The bullet taken from OAD's thigh is given by Col. Warme to DHS-OIG Agent Chris Sanchez
• March 17, 2005: A Bullet is provided to J.J. Correa of the El Paso Crime Lab by Brian Carter of DHS, El Paso
• March 17, 2005: Duty weapons collected from all BP Agents except Ramos, Compean, and one other agent (name redacted)
• March 18, 2005: The El Paso Crime Lab has completed test of bullet and JJ Correa writes letter stating that bullet provided to them could have come from a .40 S&W caliber Beretta (among other manufacturers named)
• March 18, 2005: Ramos surrenders duty weapon to DHS OIG and OIA agents
• March 18, 2005: DHS OIG agents submitted Ramos' duty weapon to the Texas DPS Crime Laboratory for analysis.
• March 18, 2005: Affidavit completed stating that ballistics testing confirms bullet came from weapon of Ignacio Ramos (including serial number reference)
• March 18, 2005: Complaint written and presented to U.S. Magistrate Judge Richard Mesa who finds probable cause
• March 18, 2005: DHS OIG prepares arrest warrants
• March 18, 2005: Ramos and Compean arrested.