https://motifri.com/pawtucket-3d-gun/

While The Boston Globe ("Couple charged with killing mother in Pawtucket with 3D-printed gun", by Amanda Milkovits, updated Jan 2, 2020, 3:11 pm) and The Providence Journal ("Pawtucket teen, N.Y. fiance face murder charges", by Mark Reynolds, posted Jan 2, 2020, 8:45am, updated Jan 2, 2020, 9:31pm) unequivocally state that the firearm used in the Pawtucket shooting was 3D-printed, investigation by Motif casts serious doubt on that.Possible murder weapon in Pawtucket shooting.

In response to our inquiry, Detective Sergeant Christopher LeFort of the Pawtucket Police Department Major Crimes Unit told Motif in an e-mail message, "As to the firearm, further examination and testing will be conducted to determine if in fact it is a 3D-printed firearm or some other make-at-home kit." We located what we believe to be the Facebook accounts of the two defendants, both of which are still active as of this writing, with Doherty using the alias "Gothshooter Santana III" and Moran using the alias "Griselda Blanco." We showed LeFort a photo from Doherty's Facebook page, posted on Dec 22, of a handgun; he carefully replied, "The firearm found and seized from Doherty is similar in appearance and color as the one shown in the photo."
Possible murder weapon in Pawtucket shooting.

James Archer, a RI-based expert on firearms and the law, although carefully disclaiming that "my opinion is based solely on examining the pictures" and that "I may have a different opinion if I could examine it in person," said "If the implication is that the gun was printed on a hobby [plastic] printer, then much of it could not have been. Also, 3D-printed guns typically work for a few shots and then fall apart. Assuming it's true that the gun was somehow manufactured by its owner, it was more likely made from a kit" Archer noted from the photos that the barrel is metal, not plastic, and "engraved with the caliber. No one is going to do that with a 3D printer." He also noted that the slide was made from metal that had "blueing" worn off forward of the ejection port, and that the trigger had a safety lever that no one would bother to include with a 3D-printed firearm. "The receiver is plastic but that's not uncommon in a commercial firearm. There is an extra hole above the takedown pin that's badly drilled. There is a metal pivot pin and a metal takedown catch. The accessory rail is too perfect to be 3D-printed and in fact the stipling on the grip is too nice for a hobbyist 3D printer. I wish I had a pic under the rail where the serial number would be. That would probably answer the question. The kit guns have the indent where a serial number would go, but it's blank. A 3D-printed gun would not have that." Archer also pointed out that Doherty in a different Facebook post showing what seems to be the same gun wrote on Dec 11, "i made it today i had the day off," a time frame inconsistent with 3D-printing a handgun, which would take significantly longer to print.

"As to the firearm, further examination and testing will be conducted to determine if in fact it is a 3D-printed firearm or some other make-at-home kit."

Exactly how experienced do you need to be to tell if it was 3d printed or not???

LoL. Imagine that.

They need to determine how it fits into the political narrative of their Masters.

That’s some damn fine Police Administration work there boys.

Sounds like a P80

3D printing requires an investment and interest level, plus a financial commitment that exceeds the typical gun kit assemblers knowledge.

About a $3-5000 investment in the printer, computer, training, and the print media. A gun kit is usually less than $500. Expecting the police to positively state what is or is not a printed gun when most are not knowledgeable on firearms in the first place is ludicrous. The PA officer has obviously followed directive or boilerplate compared to the careful diagnosis of experts who can tell the facts just from pictures.

Political agenda be damned, and as above, this is not surprising. The politicians in office know the first press article to get out has much wider exposure, corrections printed weeks later hardly any. They can lie with impunity to score political points.

The real issue is that this has been going on for DECADES, the press typically misstates, misinforms, even lies about what they report yet there are those innocents who have been indoctrinated from their first awareness of the news to take their word unreservedly. Sad.

The mainstream media is the propaganda arm of the Democratic party and taking their word on anything is the first mistake we made on the road to open socialism. Always expect a new report to be couched in lies.

Very decent (and cheap) 3D printer kits are currently <$200
Dozens of CAD and Slicer programs are completely free.
Filament isn't exactly expensive.
There are hundreds of co-ops and hubs, where you can use equipment that you don't own. Many of which wouldn't know what you made unless they were versed in it as well. Hell, my library has one and they never check on you, while you're working.

Completely plausible someone made a 3d printed firearm and used it to commit a crime.
Not in the realm of understanding that anyone even dabbling in forensics couldn't instantly tell if a firearm was 3D printed or not.

More like "we'll determine exactly what we will admit was used once we determine how it fits the narrative."

Damage done.