By Kotie Geldenhuys
Photo courtesy of Freepik
Some of the most harrowing crime scenes the police encounter involve the use of firearms. In many cases, victims are found with severe gunshot injuries, while others may have been fatally injured. Several incidents also include people who have died after committing suicide by using a firearm. In each of these cases, investigators may note the presence of gunshot residue (GSR), a byproduct released during the discharge of a firearm. This residue, which includes both primer material and propellant, plays a crucial role in forensic investigations, helping to determine whether a firearm was discharged and potentially linking suspects to a crime scene.
When a firearm is discharged, more than just a bullet leaves the barrel. Invisible to the naked eye but critical to forensic science, burned and partially burned propellants, along with other microscopic residues, are expelled from the muzzle. These gunshot residues (GSR) can play a pivotal role in crime scene investigations, particularly in determining the distance between the shooter and a surface or victim at the time of firing a weapon (National Institute of Justice, 2023).
[This is only an extract of an article published in Servamus: July 2025. This article is available for purchase.]