DEVELOPMENT OF TECHNIQUES FOR THE DETECTION OF AIRBORNE GUNSHOT RESIDUES - FINAL REPORT

• NCJ Number: 9684
• Author(s): W A JESTER; W B RENFRO
• Date Published: Unknown
• Length: 73 pages
• Grant Number(s): NI-70-065-PG-13
• Sponsoring Agency: US Dept of Justice; US Dept of Justice NIJ Pub
• Sale Source: National Institute of Justice/
• Publication Type: Report (Study/Research)
• Language: English
• Country: United States of America

Annotation

DEMONSTRATION OF THE FEASIBILITY OF DEVELOPING A METHOD TO DETERMINE WHETHER, AND POSSIBLY WHEN, A FIREARM WAS FIRED IN A ROOM.

Abstract

THE BASIS FOR MOST TESTS RUN WAS THE COLLECTION OF AIRBORNE RESIDUE FROM THE DISCHARGE OF A SINGLE 22 CALIBER BULLET IN A SPECIALLY CONSTRUCTED TEST ROOM. A STANDARD AIR FILTER COLLECTION SYSTEM, CONSISTING OF A VACUUM PUMP AND A MEMBRANE AIR FILTER DISK, AND AN ELECTROSTATIC PRECIPITATOR WERE EMPLOYED IN THE COLLECTION OF AIR SAMPLES. AIR SAMPLES WERE COLLECTED AS A FUNCTION OF TIME UP TO 36 HOURS AFTER THE TIME OF FIRING AND THEN SUBJECTED TO NEUTRON ACTIVATION AND SUBSEQUENT SPECTRAL ANALYSIS. THE INTENSITY OF THE MEASURED RADIOISOTOPES OF ANTIMONY AND BARIUM AS COMPARED TO STANDARDS GAVE INFORMATION AS TO THE AMOUNT OF ANTIMONY AND BARIUM IN THE AIR FILTER SAMPLE. THE METHOD INVESTIGATED CAN SUCCESSFULLY DETECT GUNSHOT RESIDUES UP TO AT LEAST 36 HOURS AFTER THE DISCHARGE OF A SINGLE 22 CALIBER BULLET INTO A STILL ROOM. THE TECHNIQUE AS DEVELOPED TO DATE IS NOT ABLE TO PROVIDE TIME OF FIRING INFORMATION. (AUTHOR ABSTRACT MODIFIED)