Please help me out - I know nothing about weapons

[malaise]

but in the late 70s/early80s during the political violence on this island it was not unusual to hear both AK47s and M16s. Both made horrific noise but they did not sound the same.
How come they don’t know if the suspect fired shots?

[Dennis Donovan]

1. This song keeps rattling through my brain

[Runningdawg]

2. They know - they just aren't saying.

[blogslug]

3. I thought the Secret Service were the only ones who fired weapons?

I could be wrong. This story is moving fast but I think they saw his rifle poking through a bush/fence situation and fired at him before he had a chance to fire his weapon?

[LeftInTX]

8. That's what they think. They need to confirm there are no bullet shells etc.

Relying just on ears isn't 100% accurate. Odds are that he didn't fire.

[SoFlaBro]

4. Might have had multiple fucking service weapons firing at the MAGA motherfucker making it hard to discern the shit.

[LeftInTX]

5. They need to perform ballistics and look for bullets

Odds are he didn't fire.

[getagrip_already]

6. Where did you see m16's were fired?

They have been upgraded to newer weopons, and the ss wouldnt be carrying them.

They may have an automatic rifle, but wouldnt have been an m16.

Reports from the ss said only the agent fired, and the suspect fled.

[malaise]

11. I did not see that anywhere. I mentioned what we heard back then.

I assume that an AK sounds different that what the SS were carrying.
.
The suspect looks like a full MAGAt

[rsdsharp]

7. I suppose it possible that he used a suppressor (commonly and erroneously) called a silencer.

There still would have been an audible, if reduced, report, however. It would be an unusual AK-47 that would have a threaded barrel to which a suppressor could be attached.

I think it’s more likely that they know whether he fired. There would have been ejected shell casing at the scene if he fired. There may be reasons why they are not announcing what they know. Hell, we still know very little about the July shooting.

[LeftInTX]

10. They haven't finished investigating the scene is why.

At this point, it doesn't appear there has been evidence he was fired at. Shooter was standing near a busy road.

[rsdsharp]

14. Thanks. I've been watching football all day.

[bottomofthehill]

9. It will be very easy to find the answer

They have the gun, they know where the shooter was and they have the shooter.

They can check the gun and the area for shell casings. Also, if they have the shooter so they can do a GSR test to find if he fired the weapon.

[sarisataka]

12. The reports I have seen say only the Secret Service fired

But if he did, it is quite easy to tell if a gun has been fired recently, if you can physically examine it. The SS may not have told the media everything yet.

Also, given our respect for MSM accuracy, why do we treat every report as the 100% complete truth?

[Kaleva]

13. No empty casings, full magazine, gun didn't smell like it was recently fired.

Would be indications the gun wasn't fired.

[malaise]

15. Thanks

So the attempt was foiled. So how is it unclear if he fired back.

[Kaleva]

16. I think it best to wait for more details to be released

What I mentioned is just some of the ways that could show he didn't fire his weapon but at this time, I don't know if he did or not.

[orthoclad]

17. Check to see if the SS wiped their phones.