The residue tests, which broke open the case in the first place, never were sent to a lab for analysis. The question never will be answered. McMullen decided to leave the evidence locked up because he thought the lab wouldn't run it. Residue tests aren't done for apparent suicides. The evidence likely would have been inconclusive anyway, Loughery said.
Gunshot residue can indicate someone fired a gun.
But it still is possible to pull a trigger and have no residue. McMullen and Loughery agreed Jones could not be prosecuted for homicide. But McMullen has a gut suspicion that Jones told Rivera on the night of his death that police suspected him of molesting her relative. She was crying. She was angry that Jones did not stop the shooting.