After documenting the position of a firearm, what is the next step?

After documenting the position of a firearm at a crime scene, the next step of examining the firearm for trace evidence is critical in forensic investigations. This step involves looking for any materials that might have transferred onto the firearm during the incident, such as gunshot residue, fingerprints, blood, or other biological or trace evidence.

Conducting a thorough examination of the firearm for trace evidence can provide valuable information about the circumstances surrounding the crime, such as identifying the shooter or understanding what transpired during the incident. This evidence can be vital for establishing connections between the weapon, the scene, and individuals involved in the case.

The process of careful examination should follow the documentation phase to avoid contaminating any potential evidence. Once this examination is complete, other steps like packaging the firearm or conducting further analysis of the crime scene can take place. This methodical approach ensures that all evidence is collected and preserved appropriately for future analysis and court cases.