Passing through the hands of multiple owners, crossing international borders in voyages that often span decades, the journey of a gun from its sale in the United States to being fired in anger in Cayman is long and involved.
The vast majority of firearms used in crimes in Cayman have been traced back to an original, likely legal, sale in the United States. In some cases, that sale dates back years and is the last official record of the gun’s existence until its ballistic fingerprint turns up at a crime scene thousands of miles away.
Less is known about what happens in between and the options are many.
With the assistance of law enforcement experts, analysts and academics both regionally and in the US as well as input from local crimefighters, the Compass pieces together one possible route for a weapon to reach Cayman.
Interactive map by Stephanie Ditta
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