Citation

Bueno J, Sikirzhytski V, Lednev IK. Anal. Chem. 2013; 85(15): 7287-7294.

Copyright

(Copyright © 2013, American Chemical Society)

DOI

10.1021/ac4011843

PMID

23745950

Abstract

The ability to link a suspect to a particular shooting incident is a principal task for many forensic investigators. Here we attempt to achieve this goal by analysis of gunshot residue (GSR) through the use of attenuated total reflectance (ATR) Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR) combined with statistical analysis. The firearm discharge process is analogous to a complex chemical process. Therefore, the products of this process (GSR) will vary based upon numerous factors, including the specific combination of the firearm and ammunition which was discharged. Differentiation of FTIR data, collected from GSR particles originating from three different firearm-ammunition combinations (0.38 inch, 0.40 inch and 9 mm calibers) was achieved using projection to latent structures discriminant analysis (PLS-DA). The technique was both cross (leave-one-out), internally and externally validated. External validation was achieved via assignment (caliber identification) of unknown FTIR spectra from unknown GSR particles. The results demonstrate great potential for ATR-FTIR spectroscopic analysis of GSR for forensic purposes.

Language: en