On March 11, 2022, you are notified by a police colleague that they attended a call last night after the homeowner discovered a discarded handgun in his front hedge of his residence (715 McBride Boulevard, New Westminster, BC) while he was doing some spring gardening. Your colleague has seized the handgun, rendered it safe (unloaded it) and is submitting it to you so you can do "forensic stuff." The handgun, has been properly seized and packaged as per agency guidelines, and continuity from the scene to your office is not an issue. Your colleague remembered a conversation with you about scene photographs and as such, attached this single photo for your reference. Furthermore, they observed that the serial number had been filed off and is obliterated. On your initial observation, you notice that the handgun had one magazine (clip) that is capable of holding 17 rounds; in addition, in a separate bag within the gun box are 18 unspent rounds.

Questions

How would you forensically process this firearm (describe the techniques you would or specialty sections/resources you would use or consider using)? List the forensic evidence that examination of this handgun could provide you with? What other additional investigative steps/resources could you utilize? What possible criminal offences do you have?