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.
In an interview, Neronha said he said they will need to reassess roughly 50 active cases, and then they will turn to older ones that have already been adjudicated.
Crime Lab Director Dennis Hilliard said this also 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.”
“Every effort will be made to provide analysis in a timely manner with a continued emphasis on quality,” he added.
The crime lab employee who worked on the evidence under scrutiny has been removed from doing further casework, according to Hillard. The employee has not been identified.
Neronha says the number of cases they have to look at will depend on how many that staffer was a part of.
“We’re going to be going back as far certainly as far as the individuals who are doing this testing at the lab,” he said.
The evidence in question stems from 2021 when police arrested Karel Martinez-Scarlet and accused him of murdering Keshaudas Spence, of Massachusetts. Pawtucket police found Spence shot multiple times in a car on George Bennett Industrial Highway.
He was later pronounced dead at Rhode Island Hospital.
Martinez-Scarlet, of Providence, was indicted four months later and charged with murder, conspiracy and multiple gun offenses. His case is pending in R.I. Superior Court. A trial has been scheduled for April. His attorney didn’t immediately respond to a request for comment.
Neronha said the issue was also reported to the Superior Court presiding justice, along with the Rhode Island Police Chiefs Association.
“This office will work with the defense bar to identify and address any potentially impacted case as necessary,” Neronha said.
