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26-Apr-2021
TrueAllele links cartridge cases to killer in racially motivated shootings
On September 12, 2017, 59-year-old Bruce Cofield, a black man, was fatally shot on Florida Boulevard. Two days later, 49-year-old Donald Smart, a black man, was gunned down on Alaska Street while walking to work at Louie’s Cafe. Smart left behind a son and two daughters.
The Baton Rouge Police Department (BRPD) linked the two murders through ballistic tests. According to the police, in both shootings the suspect first fired from his car, and then walked over to his victims lying on the ground, firing at them again multiple times.
"There is a strong possibility that it could be racially motivated," said BRPD spokesman Sgt. L'Jean McKneely. After a manhunt, the police arrested 23-year-old Kenneth Gleason, a white man. They found no relationship between the suspect and the victims.
In March of 2019, the Louisiana State Police Crime Laboratory developed DNA evidence linking cartridge cases found at the Florida Boulevard shooting to the defendant. Cybergenetics TrueAllele computer analysis of the DNA laboratory data revealed that a match between the cartridge cases and Gleason was a million times more probable than coincidence.
On Friday, April 23, 2021, Cybergenetics TrueAllele analyst William Allan testified at the homicide trial about the DNA match results. With pictures on PowerPoint slides, he explained how TrueAllele probabilistic genotyping worked, and showed the match results in the case. On cross-examination, the forensic scientist rebuffed faulty lawyer reasoning, referring to a recent Cybergenetics article on "Good answers to bad questions about DNA match statistics."
On Monday, April 26, 2021, after deliberating for half an hour, the Baton Rouge jury found Kenneth Gleason guilty of first-degree murder. He faces a mandatory life sentence, which the judge will deliver in August.
Prosecutor Dana Cummings said Gleason used hollow-point bullets "that would do the utmost damage." She said, "He was out hunting random black men." After the verdict, she noted that the DNA and ballistic evidence were too strong for the defense to dispute.
After the trial, jurors reported that the DNA and ballistics proof were very strong. Jarrett Ambeau, a defense attorney for Gleason, observed that, "Forensic science evidence is very difficult to overcome."
Cybergenetics has lectured on TrueAllele forensic technology to Louisiana scientists and lawyers, teaching at continuing legal education programs for both prosecutors and defenders.