PROVIDENCE, R.I. (WPRI) — The Rhode Island State Crime Laboratory has suspended some firearms forensics after discovering an issue with gun evidence in an ongoing murder case.
State officials halted the work — known as “firearms and toolmarks” — on Aug. 20 at the state crime lab on the Kingston campus of the University of Rhode Island, according to a letter sent Monday to state and local police departments.
Firearm and toolmarks examiners are responsible for analyzing guns, ballistics and other tools found at crime scenes to help law enforcement solve criminal cases. The evidence in question is ballistic testing tied a 2021 murder case, according to state officials.
R.I. Attorney General Peter Neronha announced Monday his office is now examining whether the issue was an isolated incident or might affect any other criminal cases.
“This office is working expeditiously to identify all cases where a firearms examination involving toolmarks analysis was performed so that we can determine whether retesting of evidence by an outside, independent, accredited laboratory is necessary and understand the full scope of any impact, or whether this was an isolated incident,” Neronha said in a statement.