Staten Island Angler Finds Pistol, Brass Knuckles as Silver Lake Reservoir Drops — Police Probe Possible Link to Past Crimes
A Staten Island fisherman discovered a pistol and brass knuckles taped to a rock at Silver Lake Reservoir as water levels dropped about 8.5 feet during DEP conservation efforts, prompting police to collect the items and open an investigation.
Key takeaways
- Hidden weapons found: A pistol and brass knuckles were taped to a rock and exposed by the reservoir drawdown.
- Initial identification uncertain: On-scene officers first suspected a starter pistol; a former NYPD gun squad detective later said it resembled a Ruger .38-caliber.
- DEP drawdown revealed items: Conservation measures lowered Silver Lake roughly 8.5 feet, exposing submerged shoreline and debris.
- Investigation ongoing: Items were turned over to police; no public links to specific unsolved cases had been confirmed.
Discovery and police response
Chris Sammon, a lifelong Staten Island resident and regular angler, went to Silver Lake Reservoir after learning the waterline had fallen. He told reporters he expected to find “old bottles or trash” but instead discovered a tight, taped bundle stuck to a rock near the newly exposed shoreline.
When Sammon pulled the package free and unwrapped it, he found a pistol and a pair of brass knuckles. He immediately notified a nearby officer and handed the items over for processing. Sammon later told reporters he initially thought it could be a pet’s “water burial” or something harmless, but he acted quickly because he feared a possible crime connection. He also quipped that he “would have kept the brass knuckles,” a moment of levity amid a serious find.
“I thought it was just junk, then I untaped it and saw the gun and knuckles. I called the cop right away,” Sammon said in interviews.
Officers on scene first believed the weapon might be a race- or starter pistol. A former NYPD gun squad detective who reviewed photos later told reporters it resembled a Ruger .38-caliber handgun. Officials, however, have not publicly confirmed the make or model following official evidence processing. At the time of reporting, no arrests or formal links to specific criminal cases were announced.
Sources reporting the discovery include IJR and Unilad.
Reservoir drawdown and other exposed items
The New York City Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) paused refilling Silver Lake Reservoir for conservation, lowering storage from roughly 361.5 million gallons in October to about 239.5 million gallons by Dec. 17 — a drop of approximately 8.5 feet. That drawdown revealed rocks and shoreline long underwater.
As the water receded, residents reported finding discarded phones, golf balls, sections of infrastructure piping and general trash. Some visitors crossed fences into restricted areas to inspect the newly exposed shoreline despite posted warnings. The drawdown created an unusual opportunity for both residents and officials to find objects that had been submerged for years.
For DEP drawdown details, see reporting by IJR.
Public safety and investigative status
The discovery raised immediate questions about public safety and investigative protocols. Weapons found in or near bodies of water can be linked to attempts to hide evidence, recent crimes, or decades-old incidents. Standard procedure required officers to treat the items as potential evidence; detectives and forensic teams were assigned to process and test them.
At the time of available coverage, authorities had not released results of forensic tests — including fingerprint, DNA or ballistic comparisons — that might link the pistol to known shootings. Police also did not state whether the brass knuckles were legal in the jurisdiction where they were found or whether they matched records in weapon databases. Officials urged the public to avoid entering restricted areas and to report suspicious finds instead of attempting to retrieve potential evidence.
Broader context and implications for California
Although the discovery occurred in New York, it highlights lessons for water managers and law enforcement nationwide, including California:
- Water conservation can reveal hazards: Targeted drawdowns and inspections may expose debris or, rarely, evidence of crimes. Agencies should plan public notices and extra patrols when water levels change.
- Public-safety coordination: Police, park officials and water agencies must coordinate signage, fencing and evidence-preservation steps when shorelines are exposed.
- Community reporting: The angler’s swift action in alerting police is a model response — communities should be encouraged to report suspicious items rather than moving them.
- Cold-case opportunities: Items revealed by changing water levels can provide new leads; timely forensic testing can connect recovered items to past investigations.
- Legal clarity on weapons: Recovered brass knuckles and firearms raise questions about ownership and legality; jurisdictions should ensure consistent handling and enforcement.
Reporting notes and sources
This article is based on public reporting and media coverage. Primary sources on the discovery and DEP water-volume figures include:
- IJR — “Dark discovery emerges from receded NYC reservoir” (DEP drawdown and timeline)
- Unilad — reporting on the angler’s find and on-scene accounts
- AOL item — example unrelated search result surfaced during research
- AOL item — example unrelated search result surfaced during research
Authorities asked anyone with information about weapons found at Silver Lake Reservoir to contact the appropriate NYPD precinct or local police tip line. The items were in police custody for processing as part of an open investigation at the time of the latest reports (IJR; Unilad).
