Writing on ammo is ancient, but the way shooters are doing it now offers a window into their motive

By Alisha Ebrahimji, CNN(CNN) — Scrawled messages on bullet casings and weapons left behind have popped up at several high-profile shootings over the past year. Experts say while the micro-trend is alarming, in some instances it’s revealing for detectives parsing through crime scenes for a potential motive. Here’s a look at how the practice has evolved and what we can interpret from the messages left behind. The practice of political messages on ammunition isn’t limited to soldiers, military or individual extremists. Social media fuels notorietyBefore ammunition was personalized with messages, gun magazines and weapons themselves were often embellished with inscriptions.