Silver Lake Reservoir gun found as Staten Island reservoir dries up: Pistol and brass knuckles taped to rock prompt police probe
A Staten Island man discovered a pistol and brass knuckles taped to a rock on the exposed Silver Lake Reservoir shoreline after water levels dropped about 8.5 feet; he alerted police, prompting an active investigation.
- Bundled weapons found: A pistol and brass knuckles were discovered tightly wrapped in heavy tape along the newly exposed shoreline.
- Finder reported it: Lifelong Staten Island resident Chris Sammon turned the bundle over to police rather than handling it further.
- Officials and experts differ: On-scene officers thought it resembled a race-starting device; a former NYPD gun-squad detective said it looked like a Ruger .38-caliber handgun.
- Reservoir drawdown revealed items: DEP actions dropped levels from about 361.5 million to roughly 239.5 million gallons by mid-December, exposing the fenced shoreline.
Silver Lake Reservoir gun: the discovery
The bundle was found by Chris Sammon while he explored the newly exposed shoreline of the ornamental Silver Lake Reservoir in Silver Lake Park, Staten Island. Sammon told local reporters he expected to find old bottles or trash but instead came upon a rock around which a pistol and brass knuckles had been tightly taped.
Sammon described the wrapping as secured with “a mile of tape,” a detail that raised immediate alarm. He said he turned the items over to nearby police out of concern they might be evidence tied to an old crime or might be dangerous. Officers remained on scene to collect the items and document the discovery. Source: IJR report
What law enforcement saw — and what an expert suggested
On-scene officers initially thought the pistol resembled a race-starting gun, devices that typically fire blanks to signal runners and can differ visually from service weapons. However, a former NYPD gun-squad detective consulted by reporters suggested it looked like a Ruger .38-caliber handgun.
At the time of reporting, there were no public details on ballistics testing, fingerprint checks, ownership, or follow-up investigative results. Investigators often take time to process recovered weapons and run them through databases; the absence of updates in media reports leaves the matter open. Source: IJR report
Why the shoreline was exposed: a deliberate drop in water
The pistol and brass knuckles emerged only because New York City allowed reservoir levels to fall as part of conservation measures. The New York City Department of Environmental Protection paused refilling of Silver Lake; reports show the reservoir held about 361.5 million gallons in October but fell to about 239.5 million gallons by Dec. 17, a drop of roughly 8.5 feet and well below its ~400-million-gallon capacity.
The DEP has warned the public to stay out of the fenced-off area while levels are low. The drawdown exposed pipes, infrastructure and a variety of discarded items; residents venturing into the restricted area have found phones, golf balls, trash and other debris. Source: IJR report
Background on community response
Local residents have closely watched the changing shoreline; Sammon and others who fish or walk the area said they had never seen Silver Lake this low in recent memory. The exposed banks tempted some to enter the fenced area despite official warnings, drawn by the chance to recover relics or bottles.
That curiosity can create public-safety risks and interfere with environmental or police work. When items that could be weapons appear, residents face a choice: avoid the item and notify authorities, or risk injury and compromising evidence. In this case, Sammon immediately reported the find. Source: IJR report
What remains unknown
As of the latest reporting, authorities had not released results of any ballistics tests or fingerprint analysis. There is no public information identifying the weapon’s owner or establishing when it was placed at the site, and no clear link to any active or cold case has been reported. Reporters relied on a former NYPD expert for an initial assessment, but formal law-enforcement analysis had not been made public. Source: IJR report
Silver Lake security and public messaging
The NYC DEP reiterated that the reservoir area is off-limits while levels remain low. Officials must balance public safety, water-quality concerns and operational needs when deciding when to reopen the fenced area. The exposure of infrastructure and debris raises questions about managing fenced water resources when conservation measures alter normal conditions.
Officials stressed that even seemingly harmless finds can be dangerous; the discovery of the handgun and brass knuckles underscores the need to notify authorities rather than handle suspicious objects. Source: IJR report
Implications for Utah
- Public safety and evidence handling: Exposed reservoir beds can reveal hazardous items. Utah officials and residents should heed warnings: do not touch suspicious objects; call police.
- Water management trade-offs: New York’s pause on refilling shows conservation decisions can expose infrastructure that requires inspection, cleanup or added security — a relevant lesson for drought-prone Utah.
- Local law-and-order concerns: Trespass into fenced areas undermines closures. Utah counties may consider reviewing access controls and enforcement during drawdowns to protect public safety and preserve evidence.
- Community vigilance and stewardship: The positive role of residents like Sammon—reporting rather than moving suspicious finds—can be modeled in Utah through neighborhood-watch and volunteer-steward programs.
- Forensic preparedness: Law enforcement should ensure forensic capacity and clear protocols for handling recovered weapons or evidence from public lands and reservoir beds.
Context and recommendations above are drawn from reporting on the Staten Island discovery and local water-management actions. Source: IJR report
Reporting notes and sources
This article is based on coverage of the incident at Silver Lake Reservoir and the receding Staten Island shoreline. Primary reporting and details about the find, water-level changes and public messaging were drawn from Times Media Service reporting and related accounts. See original coverage: original coverage
No ballistics reports, ownership details or further investigative updates were publicly available at the time of publication. Journalists will continue to monitor official police and DEP statements for developments. Source: IJR report
