There is a gun but it can’t be definitively said that the Winchester 3030 rifle confiscated from Jared Santos’ vehicle is the gun that was used to shoot Pedro Peredo in the 2018 Agat drive-by shooting case.
The reason was the focus of testimony during the trial.
Forensic Officer R. Guevara was tasked with documenting evidence at two Agat locations — R.R.Cruz street and Jared Santos’ Agat residence. Photographs, bullet fragments, and the confiscated gun were entered into evidence, with Officer Guevara testifying that he processed the scenes and the items.
The government focused on the photographic evidence taken from the victim’s vehicle. While two bullet fragments were found in the victim’s car, officer Guevara recalled only photographing the fragment found in the rear passenger floorboard.
The defense pointed out that Guevara could not establish the bullet’s point of entry or what type of gun the bullet fragments came from before directing questioning towards the suspect’s vehicle, a blue 2002 Mitsubishi Montero.
Guevara testified that he took photographs of the gun discovered in the SUV, further testifying that he dusted the gun for fingerprints but found none. The defense also asked if gunshot residue or GSR was processed on the gun and the blue SUV.
Guevara told the court that GSR was not taken. Guevara confirmed that testing for GSR would have established if a gun had been fired in the vehicle. The defense also confirmed that no bullets or casings were found in Santos’ vehicle or residence.
Trial will continue tomorrow.
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