FINAL by: OSAC Program Office; Version 2, December 1, 2020 1

OSAC RESEARCH NEEDS ASSESSMENT FORM

Title of research need: Development of New/Novel GSR Method(s) for Specific Identification of 

Shooters

Keyword(s): Gunshot Residue, GSR, Shooter Identification, Data Analysis, Analytical Methods

Submitting subcommittee(s): Ignitable Liquids, Explosives, & 

Gunshot Residue 

Date Approved: 3/02/2021

(If SAC review identifies additional subcommittees, add them to the box above.)

Background Information:

1. Does this research need address a gap(s) in a current or planned standard? (ex.: Field identification system 

for on scene opioid detection and confirmation)

Yes, this research will address a fundamental gap in both current and planned standards with regard to 

the probative question for which GSR analysis is typically used. The probative question surrounding 

GSR analysis is “Did person X discharge the firearm?” (i.e. “Did person X shoot the gun?”) Current GSR 

methods cannot unequivocally identify a specific individual as having discharged a firearm, to the 

exclusion of either of the current alternative possibilities, which are that the individual (1) only 

handled a firearm, or (2) only was in the vicinity of firearm discharge. Research to identify and develop 

new/novel methods that can provide data that can be used to conclusively distinguish a firearm 

shooter from a firearm handler, and a firearm discharge bystander, is needed in order to provide a 

definitive answer to the probative question. Whatever approach is developed as a result of this type of 

research will need to be practical with respect to sample collection, preservation, and analysis, and will 

ideally make use of instrumentation readily available to forensic laboratories. The sensitivity of the 

technique must also be demonstrated with regard to the amount of time between a shooting event and 

sampling of the individual and obtaining a positive result. Limitations to the techniques including false 

positives and false negatives must also be investigated.

2. Are you aware of any ongoing research that may address this research need that has not yet been published 

(e.g., research presented in conference proceedings, studies that you or a colleague have participated in but 

have yet to be published)?

No.

3. Key bibliographic references relating to this research need: (ex.: Toll, L., Standifer, K. M., Massotte, D., eds. 

(2019). Current Topics in Opioid Research. Lausanne: Frontiers Media SA. doi: 10.3389/978-2-88963-180-3)

[1] F. S. Romolo and P. Margot. Identification of Gunshot Residue: A Critical Review. For. Sci Int. 2001, 119, 195.

[2] O. Dalby, D. Butler and J. W. Birkett. Analysis of Gunshot Residue and Associated Materials-a Review. J. Forensic Sci. 

2010, 55, 924.
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[3] E. Lindsay, M. J. McVicar, R. B. Gerard, E. D. Randall and J. Pearson. Passive Exposure and Persisitence of Gunshot Residue 

(GSR) on Bystanders to a Shooting: Comparison of Shooter and Bystander Exposure to Gsr. Can. Soc. Forensic Sci. J. 2011, 

44, 89.

[4] N. Lucas, M. Cook, J. Wallace, K. P. Kirkbride and H. Kobus. Quantifying Gunshot Residues in Cases of Suicide: 

Implications for Evaluation of Suicides and Criminal Shootings. For. Sci Int. 2016, 266, 289

[5] R. V. Taudte, C. Roux, L. Blanes, M. Horder, K. P. Kirkbride and A. Beavis. The Development and Comparison of Collection 

Techniques for Inorganic and Organic Gunshot Residues. Anal. Bioanal. Chem. 2016, 408, 2567.

[6] S. Benito, Z. Abrego, A. Sanchez, N. Unceta, M. A. Goicolea and R. J. Barrio. Characterization of Organic Gunshot Residues 

in Lead-Free Ammunition Using a New Sample Collection Device for Liquid Chromatography-Quadrupole Time-of-Flight 

Mass Spectrometry. For. Sci Int. 2015, 246, 79.

[7] D. Laza, B. Nys, J. De Kinder, A. K. D. Mesmaeker and C. Moucheron. Development of a Quantitative Lc-Ms/Ms Method for 

the Analysis of Common Propellant Powder Stabilizers in Gunshot Residue. J. Forensic Sci. 2007, 52, 842

[8] C. Ott, K. Dalzell, P. Calderon-Arce, A. Alvarado-Gamez, T. Trejos, and L. Arroyo. Evaluation of the Simultaneous Analysis 

of Organic and Inorganic Gunshot Residues Within a Large Population Data Set Using Electrochemical Sensors. J. Forensic 

Sci. 2020, Vol 65 (6) pp. 1935-1944.

[9] J. Almog, K. Bar-Or, A. Leifer, Y. Delbar, and Y. Harush-Brosh. Detection of recent holding of firearms: Improving the 

sensitivity of the PDT test. For. Sci Int. 2014, 241 55-59.

[10] K. Bar-Or, J. Almog. Children and guns: The detection of recent contact with firearms on children’s hands by the PDT 

reagent. For. Sci Int. 2015, 253 43-47.

[11] J. Moran and S. Bell. Skin Permeation of Organic Gunshot Residue: Implications for Sampling and Analysis. Anal. Chem. 

2014, 86, 6071.

[12] B. Yeager, K. Bustin, J. Stewart, R. Dross and S. Bell. Evaluation and Validation of Ion Mobility Spectrometry for 

Presumptive Testing Targeting the Organic Constituents of Firearms Discharge Residue. Analytical Methods. 2015, 7, 9683.

4. Review the annual operational/research needs published by the National Institute of Justice (NIJ) at 

https://nij.ojp.gov/topics/articles/forensic-science-research-and-development-technology-working-groupoperational#latest? Is your research need identified by NIJ?

Yes. This research need is related to the Operational Requirement “Novel and/or improved evidence 

recognition, collection, and visualization tools and analytical instrumentation for field and lab use,” as related to 

the Activity “Scientific Research; Technology Development; Assessment & Evaluation,” within the Forensic 

Discipline “Trace Evidence.” This research calls for creative thinking and “out of the box” problem solving in 

order to develop new/novel method(s) for the specific identification of shooters.

5. In what ways would the research results improve current laboratory capabilities?

If a completely new method is developed for specific identification of a shooter, then laboratories who 

perform GSR analysis will be compelled to acquire the instrumentation and equipment needed to 

perform the new method.
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6. In what ways would the research results improve understanding of the scientific basis for the 

subcommittee(s)?

Research into new/novel methods of GSR analysis will not only potentially uncover a means for the 

unambiguous discrimination of a shooter from the other current alternatives, but also is likely to result 

in the generation of valuable additional information regarding a variety of related factors, perhaps such 

as frequency of occurrence of various particle types, persistence and transfer probabilities, or 

theoretical modeling of particle deposition. Each of these potential results would make strides toward 

an improved understanding of the scientific basis for GSR analysis with respect to the probative 

question. 

7. In what ways would the research results improve services to the criminal justice system?

As previously stated, current methods of GSR analysis cannot unequivocally answer the probative 

question of who specifically discharged a firearm, to the exclusion of someone who only handled a 

firearm or was only in close proximity to a firearm discharge. If successful, the results of this research

will provide the court with an unambiguous answer to the probative question: who fired the weapon?

8. Status assessment (I, II, III, or IV): I

Major gap in 

current 

knowledge

Minor gap in 

current 

knowledge

No or limited

current research is 

being conducted I III

Existing current 

research is being 

conducted II IV

This research need has been identified by one or more subcommittees of OSAC and is being provided as an 

informational resource to the community.