Jacksonville Sheriff's Office doubles amount of equipment used to help solve shootings

The Jacksonville Sheriff's Office has doubled the amount of equipment used to help solve shootings.
Action News Jax first reported on the equipment, known as "NIBIN" that compares ballistic evidence in 2017.

For Gary Tripp Sr. the memory of his father’s death is all still fresh in his mind.

“It still plays back in my mind as if it just happened, so for me it’s not moving, but time keeps moving,” Tripp said.

His father, a disabled Vietnam veteran, was found shot to death in his bedroom back in April, and police are still searching for his killer.

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“They could be walking around our city now and that’s the last thing we need is another killer not found here in Jacksonville,” Tripp said.

As the search for the suspect continues, JSO recently got awarded more crime solving equipment from the Department of Justice and Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives. 
National Integrated Ballistic Information Network equipment allows investigators to compare ballistic evidence from gun crimes and recovered firearms to other records across the country.

“I’m happy to see that they are embracing technology to get these sort of things so they can solve these crimes,” Action News Jax crime and safety expert Ken Jefferson said.

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Jefferson said now that JSO has two systems in place, more crimes should be able to be solved.

“They are trying to do everything they can to get try to bring these things to a closure,” Jefferson said.

Tripp said he is hopeful that police will be able to trace the evidence found in the house where his dad was killed to the gunman.

“Hopefully his crime and many other crimes, I know other families are suffering too, but I hope this will help solve that case,” Tripp said.

JSO was one of six agencies that received additional equipment from the federal government.

Cox Media Group