In London, Ontario, the reported number of shootings has reached 20 in 2025, prompting the police to intensify efforts in tracing and removing illegal firearms from circulation. The Guns and Gangs Section of the London Police Service (LPS) has identified the source of 31 guns this year through the Firearms Analysis and Tracing Enforcement (FATE) process.
Authorities provided CBC London with insights into the initial stages of the tracing procedure and how investigators uncover details ranging from the owner’s identity to the firearm’s origin.
Forensic specialist Det. Const. Craig Walsh initiates the process upon receiving a firearm in the Forensics Identification Section lab. Using advanced equipment and technology, Walsh’s first step typically involves collecting DNA samples from the weapon’s textured surfaces to identify skin cells, bodily fluids, or other DNA sources.
Following the swab collection, the DNA samples are sent to the Centre for Forensic Science in Toronto for analysis. Walsh highlighted the significance of detecting DNA from multiple individuals as valuable leads for potential arrests and gun confiscations.
Subsequently, Walsh focuses on identifying fingerprints on the firearm, emphasizing the possibility of obtaining crucial evidence from the smooth areas of the weapon’s surface. By utilizing a fine powder and laser technology, fingerprints are revealed and compared against the RCMP national database for potential matches.
Additionally, Walsh explores the concept of firearms leaving unique “fingerprints,” which can be crucial in investigations. Through firing guns in the indoor shooting range and preserving the resulting bullets, investigators can trace the gun’s unique markings on the casings and bullets, aiding in potential matches at other crime scenes.
Walsh also highlighted the evolving behaviors of criminals, emphasizing the rise of ghost guns, which lack identifiable markers like factory-etched serial numbers. Despite these challenges, DNA and fingerprint evidence can still provide valuable leads in tracing illegal firearms.
Det. Sgt. Jon Meinen of the Guns and Gangs Section emphasized the direct impact of lab work on field progress, citing a high success rate in tracing the original manufacturing and sale points of firearms. Notably, a majority of traced guns originate from the United States, with Meinen stressing the correlation between guns and gang/drug activities.
The ultimate goal remains in understanding and intercepting the influx of guns into London to curb gun-related incidents effectively. Meinen emphasized that reducing the arrival of firearms in the city would lead to a significant decline in gun-related activities.