Staten Island fisherman finds taped pistol, brass knuckles as Silver Lake Reservoir drops more than 8 feet
A Staten Island fisherman found a pistol and brass knuckles taped to a rock at Silver Lake Reservoir after the water dropped more than eight feet; he turned the items over to police as officials and residents sought answers about provenance and safety.
- What happened: Water levels at Silver Lake Reservoir fell about 8.5 feet, exposing a taped bundle on a rock that contained a pistol and brass knuckles; the finder, Chris Sammon, handed the items to police. IJR
- How the items were described: Active officers suggested the firearm might be a race-starting gun; a former NYPD gun squad detective said it resembled a Ruger .38-caliber handgun. IJR
- Reservoir context: NYC DEP paused refilling to conserve water; stored volume dropped from ~361.5 million to ~239.5 million gallons, exposing long-submerged objects. IJR
- Open questions: No public updates on forensic tests, serial-number checks, or links to known crimes as of reporting; outlets repeated basic facts without new details. AOL, UNILAD
Discovery details: what Sammon found and why he turned it in
Chris Sammon, a lifelong Staten Island resident and avid fisherman, visited Silver Lake after reports the waterline had receded. Expecting “bottles, trash, maybe a discarded phone,” he instead found a dark, heavily taped bundle perched on a rock.
“I thought it might be a water burial for a pet or some old gear,” Sammon told reporters. When he unwrapped the bundle it contained a pistol and a set of brass knuckles, both tightly secured with tape. Concerned they could be tied to an unresolved crime, he immediately handed the items to police; he said he would have kept the brass knuckles but felt turning them in was the right action. IJR
How officials described the finds
Initial on-scene officers suggested the firearm could be a race-starting gun, a short device sometimes used to signal starts at track events. A former NYPD gun squad detective who reviewed photos said the weapon resembled a Ruger .38-caliber handgun. At the time of reporting, police had not released forensic results, serial-number checks, or any confirmation tying the items to a specific incident. IJR
Why the reservoir dropped and what was exposed
The New York City Department of Environmental Protection halted refilling of Silver Lake Reservoir to conserve water. Stored volume fell from roughly 361.5 million gallons in October to about 239.5 million gallons by mid-December — a decline of about 8.5 feet that revealed rocks, pipes, discarded phones, golf balls and other debris.
Officials noted the reservoir is primarily aesthetic and said there were no immediate plans to refill it. The unusually low level created newly exposed shorelines that drew curious residents past safety fences into restricted zones. IJR
Public safety and access concerns
As water receded, people pressed against fences and entered off-limits areas to explore the newly visible shoreline. City and park officials warned residents to stay behind barriers and to report suspicious finds to police rather than handle them.
Sammon’s discovery underscores risks of unregulated access: sharp debris, unstable footing and potentially hazardous items such as weapons or bio-waste. There were no public reports of injuries linked to exploring the exposed reservoir edge at the time of reporting. IJR
What remains unknown
Multiple outlets repeated Sammon’s account, but no follow-up details were made public about law enforcement testing or case status. Police did not immediately release whether the pistol had a recoverable serial number, whether ballistics testing linked it to any incidents, or whether the tape and rust suggested recent or long-ago disposal.
Open investigative questions include:
- How long the items were submerged.
- Whether forensic testing will link the weapon to a crime.
- Whether tape and corrosion indicate recent or historical disposal.
Context: broader implications and relevance to the Inland Empire
The Silver Lake discovery is part of a larger pattern when urban reservoirs are drawn down for conservation or maintenance: receding water can reveal lost items, trash and sometimes objects tied to crime or accidents. For readers in the Inland Empire, the incident offers lessons about water management, public messaging and park safety.
Practical takeaways for local agencies:
- Plan for increased public access to newly exposed shorelines during drawdowns.
- Enhance signage, barriers, and coordination with police and park patrols.
- Prepare communications instructing residents to report — not handle — suspicious items.
Sources and further reading
Investigative notes
This report preserves Sammon’s account and preliminary officer descriptions. No public law enforcement updates about forensic testing or case status were available at time of reporting. Reporters seeking further detail may contact the NYPD, NYC Department of Environmental Protection, or Times Media Service.
