Ebony has been asked to pick up a firearm at a crime scene. How should the firearm be picked up to preserve the evidence?
A.
by the barrel
B.
by the trigger
C.
by the trigger guard
D.
anyway is fine
C. by the trigger guard
If trying to determine how far from a victim a shot took place, what factor would MOST interfere with the analysis?
A.
The gun used in the incident hasn’t been found.
B.
The victim survived the incident.
C.
A hollow-point round was used.
D.
The gun used in the shooting was decades old.
B. The victim survived the incident.
To preserve the evidence, the firearm should be picked up by the trigger guard (option C). Picking up a firearm by the trigger or the barrel could potentially alter the position of the weapon's components and contaminate any fingerprints or other evidence present on the firearm. The trigger guard is typically the best place to handle a firearm as it helps to minimize contact with critical areas while also providing sufficient control during the pick-up process.
It is important to handle firearms found at a crime scene with extreme care to ensure the preservation of evidence.