Detection technology helps police track down gunshots

LOS ANGELES - Gunfire detection technology helped police arrest the suspect in a shooting spree in which three people were killed on Tuesday in Fresno, California.

The ShotSpotter is a system of sensors, which "listen" to shots and immediately identify the location, number of shots, and types of weapons within its area of coverage.

The sensors, installed about 9 meters above street level and 420 meters apart, immediately provided accurate location and helped police arrested the suspect at the scene.

Whenever there is a loud noise, the sensors are triggered and start to record. Each one captures the time, location and audio. In less than 45 seconds, the system can verify whether the noise was gunfire and inform the law enforcement.

Since police can get accurate information before they arrive at the scene, they are able to locate the victims as quickly as possible. Otherwise, they would have to spend valuable time and resources driving block by block to look for evidence as criminals escape the scene.

"A total of 16 rounds were fired according to our gunshot detection system, and all of those occurred in approximately a minute to a minute and a half," Fresno Police Chief Jerry Dyer said. "As a result, what we know is that three people were shot and one person shot at in less than a two-minute time frame."

Without the ShotSpotter system, more people could have been killed, Dyer told to Fox News.

The City of Fresno installed the ShotSpotter system in 2015. Other cities across the United States using this technology include New York, New Jersey, San Diego and San Francisco.

The 39-year-old suspect, identified as Kori Ali Muhammad, was taken into custody.