The Rhode Island State Crime Laboratory has suspended some firearms forensics after discovering an issue with gun evidence in an ongoing murder case.
According to a letter sent Sept. 2, 2024 to state and local police departments, officials halted firearms and toolmarks analysis at the state crime lab on the Kingston campus of the University of Rhode Island on Aug. 20, 2024.
The evidence in question is ballistic testing tied to the arrest of Karel Martinez-Scarlet in the 2021 murder of Keshaudas Spence, a former football player at Sacred Heart University in Fairfield, Connecticut. On June 26, 2021, police found Spence in the passenger seat of a car parked on the George Bennett Industrial Highway, suffering from a gunshot wound. He was taken the hospital, where he was later pronounced dead.
“The Rhode Island State Crime Lab recently notified this Office of an issue related to results in a firearms toolmarks examination in a pending criminal case. What this means is that certain evidence, specifically related to the microscopic toolmark analysis of firearms projectiles and shell casings, used in criminal cases may need to be re-examined. 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," said Rhode Issland Attorney General Peter Neronha in a recent statement.
Crime Lab Director Dennis Hilliard said this could mean firearm evidence in ongoing cases could be delayed, according to his letter to police.
“Together with the attorney general’s office and the crime lab commission, we are actively identifying alternative laboratories and qualified consultants to assist with casework needs in this discipline,” Hilliard wrote. “This process may result in delays of analysis and reporting.”
Separately, on August 21 and 27, 2024, the State Crime Lab Commission met so that the Crime Lab could report on this issue to the Commission. Based on the State Crime Lab’s report, the Commission recommended that the Lab take a number of remedial measures including:
- Suspend firearm toolmarks examinations for the time being;
- Arrange and pay for the examination or re-examination of all evidence, by an outside laboratory, as needed and requested by the Office of the Attorney General or law enforcement agencies; and,
- Retain an outside accredited agency, in consultation with the Office of Attorney General and the Rhode Island State Police, to conduct a comprehensive assessment, including technical review of the operations of the firearms section of the State Crime Lab including but not limited to assessment of the lab protocols and procedures, lab management and supervision, and technical proficiency of the toolmarks examiners.
Republished courtesy of Attorney General Peter Neronha