TECHNICAL NOTE

Prevalence of gunshot residue particles on back seats of police vehicles

Osnat Israelsohn Azulay PhD

Department of Chemistry and Toolmarks, Division of Identification and Forensic Science (DIFS), Israel Police, Jerusalem, Israel

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Yigal Zidon PhD,

Corresponding Author

Yigal Zidon PhD

[email protected]

Department of Chemistry and Toolmarks, Division of Identification and Forensic Science (DIFS), Israel Police, Jerusalem, Israel

Correspondence

Yigal Zidon, Toolmarks and Materials Laboratory, Department of Identification and Forensic Science (DIFS), Israel Police, Jerusalem 91906, Israel.

Email: [email protected]

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Lital Malihi BSc,

Lital Malihi BSc

Disaster Victim Identification (DVI) at the Division of Identification and Forensic Science (DIFS), Israel Police, Jerusalem, Israel

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Hila Rosengarten MSc,

Hila Rosengarten MSc

Department of Chemistry and Toolmarks, Division of Identification and Forensic Science (DIFS), Israel Police, Jerusalem, Israel

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Yaron Cohen MSc,

Yaron Cohen MSc

Department of Chemistry and Toolmarks, Division of Identification and Forensic Science (DIFS), Israel Police, Jerusalem, Israel

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Osnat Israelsohn Azulay PhD,

Osnat Israelsohn Azulay PhD

Department of Chemistry and Toolmarks, Division of Identification and Forensic Science (DIFS), Israel Police, Jerusalem, Israel

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Yigal Zidon PhD,

Corresponding Author

Yigal Zidon PhD

[email protected]

Department of Chemistry and Toolmarks, Division of Identification and Forensic Science (DIFS), Israel Police, Jerusalem, Israel

Correspondence

Yigal Zidon, Toolmarks and Materials Laboratory, Department of Identification and Forensic Science (DIFS), Israel Police, Jerusalem 91906, Israel.

Email: [email protected]

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Lital Malihi BSc,

Lital Malihi BSc

Disaster Victim Identification (DVI) at the Division of Identification and Forensic Science (DIFS), Israel Police, Jerusalem, Israel

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Hila Rosengarten MSc,

Hila Rosengarten MSc

Department of Chemistry and Toolmarks, Division of Identification and Forensic Science (DIFS), Israel Police, Jerusalem, Israel

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Yaron Cohen MSc,

Yaron Cohen MSc

Department of Chemistry and Toolmarks, Division of Identification and Forensic Science (DIFS), Israel Police, Jerusalem, Israel

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First published: 11 June 2024

https://doi.org/10.1111/1556-4029.15560

Osnat Israelsohn Azulay and Yigal Zidon contributed equally to this study.

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Abstract

The presence of gunshot residue (GSR) in a sample can provide valuable information in forensic investigations by associating a suspect with a shooting incident. However, in order to have confidence in the integrity of the results' interpretation, the possibility of contamination by secondary transfer of GSR occurring during the transportation of a person under custody in a police vehicle should be evaluated. In order to investigate police vehicles as a source for secondary transfer of GSR particles, a total of 51 samples were collected from the rear seats of random police vehicles and used to transport arrested individuals. Results indicated that the type of upholstery of the seats plays a main role in determining the potential for secondary GSR contamination. The potential chance of coming into contact with GSR particles in police vehicles is low. GSR contamination from police vehicles is, maybe, not of a major concern but should be taken into consideration mainly when very few characteristic GSR particles are found on an analyzed sample.

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The authors have no conflicts of interest to report.

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Volume69, Issue5

Special Section on Disaster Victim Identification

September 2024

Pages 1880-1886

Prevalence of gunshot residue particles on back seats of police vehicles

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Prevalence of gunshot residue particles on back seats of police vehicles

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