Staten Island fisherman finds pistol, brass knuckles as Silver Lake Reservoir drops 8 feet, police probe taped package
A Staten Island angler discovered a pistol and brass knuckles taped to a rock as Silver Lake Reservoir receded more than eight feet; he turned the items over to police, who have opened an investigation.
Key takeaways
- A fisherman found weapons: Chris Sammon uncovered a pistol and a pair of brass knuckles tied to a rock on the exposed shoreline at Silver Lake Reservoir.
- Reservoir lowered for conservation: The New York City Department of Environmental Protection reduced the reservoir volume from roughly 361.5 million gallons to 239.5 million gallons by Dec. 17, an 8.5-foot drop (initial reporting).
- Investigation ongoing: The finder handed the items to police; officers initially speculated the firearm could be a race-starting gun, while a former NYPD gun squad detective later suggested it resembled a Ruger .38-caliber (source).
Discovery and immediate response
On a recent outing to Silver Lake Park, lifelong Staten Island resident and avid fisherman Chris Sammon walked the newly exposed shoreline and spotted a tightly taped bundle resting on a rock. Expecting bottles or typical debris, Sammon unwrapped the package and found a pistol and a pair of brass knuckles.
Sammon alerted nearby police and turned the items over to officers on the scene. Local reporting documents the sequence and notes that the discovery immediately prompted an official response (IJR coverage).
Police assessment and early details
Officers at the scene initially described the firearm as possibly being a race-starting gun, a device sometimes used to signal the start of sporting events. Subsequently, a former NYPD gun squad detective who examined published images suggested the pistol more closely resembled a Ruger .38-caliber handgun. Authorities have not publicly confirmed the make or model, nor released information about ballistics testing or serial-number tracing to date (report).
Why the reservoir dropped
The New York City Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) lowered Silver Lake Reservoir as part of water management and conservation measures. Officials reported the reservoir’s volume fell from about 361.5 million gallons in October to roughly 239.5 million gallons by Dec. 17, an 8.5-foot decline, exposing parts of the reservoir bed not seen in years (DEP report via IJR).
Witness account and local reaction
Sammon told reporters he had hoped to find old wine bottles or other relics, not weapons. He said the taped bundle looked suspicious from the start — he considered it might be a pet burial or “something more sinister.” After realizing the contents were a pistol and brass knuckles, Sammon said he immediately reported the discovery to police out of concern the items could be linked to an unresolved crime. He later quipped he might have kept the brass knuckles but knew handing them in was the right move (source).
Local visitors described the water level as the lowest they could remember. The exposed shoreline drew curiosity and prompted warnings from officials to avoid off-limits areas due to safety and contamination risks.
What officials have said — and not said
Officials confirmed law enforcement took possession of the items and that an investigation is underway. There have been no public updates on ownership, forensic outcomes, or links to specific crimes. Separate reporting that mentioned searches of the reservoir did not add further confirmed details about the weapon recovery (AOL coverage).
Context: receding NYC reservoir weapons and public safety
This incident is part of a broader pattern in which falling water levels reveal previously hidden objects — from mundane trash to items that demand police inquiry. In urban settings like New York City, exposed beds of reservoirs and waterways can reintroduce hazards and evidence into public view.
Standard police protocol for recovered unregistered firearms typically includes fingerprint checks, photographing and logging the item, and possible test-firing for ballistic comparison; investigators also seek serial numbers to trace history. At this stage, officials have not disclosed whether those steps were completed in this case (coverage).
Safety and access concerns at exposed shorelines
City agencies warn the exposed reservoir bed is unsafe: wet, unstable ground, hidden infrastructure, and potential contamination from buried items pose physical and health risks. The DEP and park officials urge the public not to enter restricted zones both to protect visitors and to preserve the water system’s integrity (IJR source).
Implications for Fresno, California
Although the discovery occurred in New York, it offers lessons for other municipalities facing lowered water levels. Possible implications include:
- Economic costs: debris removal, policing, forensic work and environmental remediation can create unexpected expenses for city budgets.
- Policy and communication: local leaders should coordinate water agencies, parks departments and law enforcement, and clearly inform the public about risks and timelines.
- Social effects: exposed shorelines attract curious residents, increasing safety challenges; proactive messaging that frames restrictions as protective can help manage behavior.
- Practical steps: signage, timely public notices, debris sweeps and ready access to forensic resources are sensible preparations for municipalities like Fresno.
Available reporting and next steps
At present, public reports do not provide outcomes from the police investigation, ownership traces, or whether the pistol was linked to any known crimes. Readers can follow updates from original coverage and local authorities as the probe continues: initial IJR report, Unilad summary, and AOL follow-up.
“I thought it looked like a pet burial or something more sinister,” Sammon told reporters, adding he reported the find immediately because he feared it could be linked to an unsolved crime.
Authorities continue to caution the public about entering closed areas of Silver Lake Reservoir as conservation-driven water management exposes more of the shoreline. The taped package, the recovered pistol and brass knuckles, and the circumstances that brought them to light remain part of an open investigation with limited public detail so far.
