Premium
Detection of Gunshot Residue on Dark‐Colored Clothing Prior to Chemical Analysis
Author(s) -
Kersh Kyla L.,
Childers James M.,
Justice Dale,
Karim Greg
Publication year - 2014
Publication title -
journal of forensic sciences
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.715
H-Index - 96
eISSN - 1556-4029
pISSN - 0022-1198
DOI - 10.1111/1556-4029.12409
Subject(s) - ammunition , residue (chemistry) , gunpowder , colored , clothing , cartridge , materials science , environmental science , analytical chemistry (journal) , chemistry , chromatography , composite material , archaeology , metallurgy , biochemistry , history
Detection of gunshot residue ( GSR ) is an arduous task for investigators. It is often accomplished with chemical tests, which can reveal elements and ions indicating the presence of GSR , but are likely to cause physical alteration to the pattern. In this study, the S pex F orensics M ini‐ C rime S cope MCS 400, along with 16 accompanying wavelength filters, was applied to various GSR patterns and target types. Three dark shirt materials, four ammunition calibers, and eight ammunition manufacturers, along with the primer residue of the different manufacturer ammunitions were tested. Results indicate the alternate light source wavelength of 445 nm to be the optimal setting. In addition, target material plays a large role in the preservation of GSR patterns as particles burn. Furthermore, it can be extrapolated that residue, observed from a full round and firing distance of six inches, is mostly composed of unburnt gunpowder residue, not primer residue.