NCJ Number
46562
Journal
International Criminal Police Review Volume: 32 Issue: 312 Dated: (NOVEMBER 1977) Pages: 274-277
Date Published
1977
Length
4 pages
Annotation
THIS ARTICLE PROVIDES GUIDELINES FOR INVESTIGATORY AND CRIME SCENE PRESERVATION TECHNIQUES TO BE EMPLOYED AT THE LOCALE OF A CRIME INVOLVING FIREARMS, EMPHASIZING TREATMENT OF GUNS FOUND AT THE SITE.
Abstract
ALTHOUGH THE LIKELIHOOD OF FINDING FINGERPRINTS ON GUNS OR CARTRIDGES IS SLIGHT, INVESTIGATORS MUST NEVER OVERLOOK THAT POSSIBILITY. AUTOMATIC PISTOLS ARE THE PREFERRED INSTRUMENT IN CASES OF ARMED ROBBERY, MURDER, OR SUICIDE; IT IS ADVISABLE TO HANDLE THE WEAPON WITH CAUTION WHEN LOOKING FOR FINGERPRINTS BECAUSE IT MIGHT BE LOADED. TO FIND MEASURES TO DETERMINE IF IT IS LOADED ARE DELINEATED. REMOVE THE MAGAZINE AND CHECK IT AND THE CARTRIDGE CASINGS FOR FINGERPRINTS. DETERMINING IF THE GUN IS COCKED AND IF THE MAGAZINE HOLDS ANY CARTRIDGES IS DISCUSSED; FOR EXAMPLE, AN UNCOCKED GUN WITH AN EMPTY MAGAZINE MAY NOT HAVE BEEN USED IN THE CRIME UNDER INVESTIGATION. IN CASES OF FAILURE DUE TO INDIVIDUAL CARTRIDGE AN EXPERIENCED HANDLER OF FIREARMS WOULD HAVE EJECTED THE PROBLEM SHELL AND MOVED ONTO THE NEXT ROUND. IF A WEAPON IS FOUND TO CONTAIN A FAULTY CARTRIDGE, THIS IS EVIDENCE OF AMATEUR INVOLVEMENT. HANDLING A REVOLVER INVOLVES MUCH THE SAME SORT OF CARE, EXCEPT THAT THE INVESTIGATOR SHOULD NOTE WHETHER THE CHAMBER OPPOSITE THE BARREL CONTAINS A FULL OR SPENT CARTRIDGE, AND NOTE THE NUMBER OF FULL AND SPENT CARTRIDGES HELD IN THE CYLINDER. WHEN DEALING WITH RIFLES AN INVESTIGATOR SHOULD NOTE WHETHER THE WEAPON IS A SINGLE BARREL SEMIAUTOMATIC, OR AUTOMATIC WEAPON, AND WHETHER IT HAS A RIFLED OR SOOMTH BARREL. SMOOTH BARREL WEAPONS ARE POPULAR FOR HUNTING AND ARE MORE COMMONLY USED IN MURDERS, ARMED ATTACKS AND SUICIDES THAN ARE RIFLED BORE WEAPONS, WHICH ORDINARILY ARE FOUND IN CASES OF ORGANIZED GANG CRIMES. LIFTING FINGERPRINTS FROM WEAPONS FOUND UNDER WATER OR BURIED IN THE GROUND IS SELDOM SUCCESSFUL, BUT SUCH WEAPONS SHOULD BE HANDED OVER TO A GUNSMITH FOR AN INITIAL CLEANING SO THAT THERE IS NOT RISK OF RUST OR DIRT MODIFYING THOSE PARTS OF THE WEAPON WHICH MAY STRIKE THE CARTRIDGES OR BULLETS DURING TEST FIRINGS FOR EVIDENCE OF GROOVING, PERCUSSION, EJECTION AND EXTRACTOR MARKS. (KBL)