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Commonwealth of Pennsylvania v. Torrance Norris
TrueAllele links ghost gun to shooting
| Crime | In March 2023, an assailant shot and killed 21-year-old Naim Bayete in the street. After the shooting, the suspect discarded the firearm (a ghost gun) at a friend’s house. The suspect’s friend admitted to disposing of the murder weapon. Police later recovered the murder weapon in a mailbox. |
| Evidence | Investigators swabbed the ghost gun for DNA. |
| DNA | The Pennsylvania State Police Bureau of Forensic Services generated DNA data from the gun. |
| Match | The crime laboratory was unable to interpret the DNA data due to the complexity of the mixture. |
| TrueAllele | On the same data, TrueAllele separated out the five-person mixture and calculated an inclusionary match statistic to suspect Torrance Norris of 402 billion. |
| Cybergenetics | On October 9, 2025, Cybergenetics analyst Kari Danser testified before an Erie County jury about the TrueAllele DNA results. |
| Outcome | On October 10, 2025, after just an hour of deliberations, the jury found Mr. Norris guilty of all counts, including criminal homicide. |
Media
- Erie police say confrontation at gas station preceded fatal shooting of 21-year-old man - Erie Times-News
- Police arrest suspect in fatal shooting of 21-year-old - YourErie.com
- Trial begins for Erie man accused of 2023 homicide - YourErie.com
- Witness testifies DNA of suspect in 2023 fatal Erie shooting found on recovered ghost gun - Erie Times-News
- Erie man found guilty on all charges for 2023 homicide - YourErie.com