The effect of type of firearm and shooting distance on pattern distribution, particle dispersion and amount of gunshot residue
Abstract Background Evidence can be defined as the object’s availability and/or information that indicates whether a belief or proposition is true or valid. Gunshot residue (GSR) is an important evidence that can serve many roles in ballistic investigation such as shooting distance, type of firearm...
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Format: | Article |
Language: | English |
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SpringerOpen
2021-05-01
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Series: | Egyptian Journal of Forensic Sciences |
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Online Access: | https://doi.org/10.1186/s41935-021-00225-7 |
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author | Zainiharyati Mohd Zain Siti Nurhazlin Jaluddin Mohamed Izzharif Abdul Halim Mohamed Sazif Mohamed Subri |
author_facet | Zainiharyati Mohd Zain Siti Nurhazlin Jaluddin Mohamed Izzharif Abdul Halim Mohamed Sazif Mohamed Subri |
author_sort | Zainiharyati Mohd Zain |
collection | DOAJ |
description | Abstract Background Evidence can be defined as the object’s availability and/or information that indicates whether a belief or proposition is true or valid. Gunshot residue (GSR) is an important evidence that can serve many roles in ballistic investigation such as shooting distance, type of firearm and ammunition used in shooting related to GSR. However, due to minimal amount of GSR that can be found in crime scene, suitable methods and technique are required in order to obtain the information from the evidence. This action is also known as evidence recovery. When a firearm is fired, soot or particles are discharged from any opening of the firearm and deposited at the vicinity of point of shooting. Results This study emphasized on the examination of the soot/particles produced and pattern distribution of GSR deposited on white cotton cloth target at varying shooting distances (from 3 to 50 cm) using a video spectral comparator. Pattern distribution and GSR particle density are the main factors in determining the shooting distances in clothing. Principle component analysis (PCA) and hierarchical clustering analysis (HCA) were used to classify firearms; the differences in the GSR pattern distribution are highly recognizable. This study showed that the relationship between the GSR particle dispersion and shooting distance was proportionally linear. The results obtained from the shooting test showed that the diameter of GSR distribution and the amount of residues being deposited from shots fired decreased at distances greater than 21 cm. Conclusion This study will help the investigators in determining the shooting distances and evaluating the firearms used. There is a promising method for examination of GSR pattern on the target material which is also important for firing distance estimation. |
first_indexed | 2024-12-20T06:31:45Z |
format | Article |
id | doaj.art-78f5d97275254399bdf2c12b61634647 |
institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
issn | 2090-5939 |
language | English |
last_indexed | 2024-12-20T06:31:45Z |
publishDate | 2021-05-01 |
publisher | SpringerOpen |
record_format | Article |
series | Egyptian Journal of Forensic Sciences |
spelling | doaj.art-78f5d97275254399bdf2c12b616346472022-12-21T19:50:07ZengSpringerOpenEgyptian Journal of Forensic Sciences2090-59392021-05-011111910.1186/s41935-021-00225-7The effect of type of firearm and shooting distance on pattern distribution, particle dispersion and amount of gunshot residueZainiharyati Mohd Zain0Siti Nurhazlin Jaluddin1Mohamed Izzharif Abdul Halim2Mohamed Sazif Mohamed Subri3School of Chemistry and Environment, Faculty of Applied Sciences, Universiti Teknologi MARASchool of Chemistry and Environment, Faculty of Applied Sciences, Universiti Teknologi MARASchool of Chemistry and Environment, Faculty of Applied Sciences, Universiti Teknologi MARAForensic Laboratory Royal Malaysia PoliceAbstract Background Evidence can be defined as the object’s availability and/or information that indicates whether a belief or proposition is true or valid. Gunshot residue (GSR) is an important evidence that can serve many roles in ballistic investigation such as shooting distance, type of firearm and ammunition used in shooting related to GSR. However, due to minimal amount of GSR that can be found in crime scene, suitable methods and technique are required in order to obtain the information from the evidence. This action is also known as evidence recovery. When a firearm is fired, soot or particles are discharged from any opening of the firearm and deposited at the vicinity of point of shooting. Results This study emphasized on the examination of the soot/particles produced and pattern distribution of GSR deposited on white cotton cloth target at varying shooting distances (from 3 to 50 cm) using a video spectral comparator. Pattern distribution and GSR particle density are the main factors in determining the shooting distances in clothing. Principle component analysis (PCA) and hierarchical clustering analysis (HCA) were used to classify firearms; the differences in the GSR pattern distribution are highly recognizable. This study showed that the relationship between the GSR particle dispersion and shooting distance was proportionally linear. The results obtained from the shooting test showed that the diameter of GSR distribution and the amount of residues being deposited from shots fired decreased at distances greater than 21 cm. Conclusion This study will help the investigators in determining the shooting distances and evaluating the firearms used. There is a promising method for examination of GSR pattern on the target material which is also important for firing distance estimation.https://doi.org/10.1186/s41935-021-00225-7Gunshot residuePattern distributionParticle dispersionClose range shooting distancePrinciple component analysisHierarchical cluster analysis |
spellingShingle | Zainiharyati Mohd Zain Siti Nurhazlin Jaluddin Mohamed Izzharif Abdul Halim Mohamed Sazif Mohamed Subri The effect of type of firearm and shooting distance on pattern distribution, particle dispersion and amount of gunshot residue Egyptian Journal of Forensic Sciences Gunshot residue Pattern distribution Particle dispersion Close range shooting distance Principle component analysis Hierarchical cluster analysis |
title | The effect of type of firearm and shooting distance on pattern distribution, particle dispersion and amount of gunshot residue |
title_full | The effect of type of firearm and shooting distance on pattern distribution, particle dispersion and amount of gunshot residue |
title_fullStr | The effect of type of firearm and shooting distance on pattern distribution, particle dispersion and amount of gunshot residue |
title_full_unstemmed | The effect of type of firearm and shooting distance on pattern distribution, particle dispersion and amount of gunshot residue |
title_short | The effect of type of firearm and shooting distance on pattern distribution, particle dispersion and amount of gunshot residue |
title_sort | effect of type of firearm and shooting distance on pattern distribution particle dispersion and amount of gunshot residue |
topic | Gunshot residue Pattern distribution Particle dispersion Close range shooting distance Principle component analysis Hierarchical cluster analysis |
url | https://doi.org/10.1186/s41935-021-00225-7 |
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