Staten Island Fisherman Finds Taped Pistol and Brass Knuckles as Silver Lake Reservoir Falls 8 Feet
Staten Island, New York – A local fishing enthusiast made a startling discovery at Silver Lake Reservoir when drastically receding water levels exposed a pistol and brass knuckles taped to a rock. Chris Sammon reported the find to authorities, prompting an investigation.
Key takeaways
- Significant drawdown: Silver Lake’s level fell roughly 8 to 8.5 feet, exposing normally submerged shoreline and rocks.
- Items recovered: A tightly taped bundle containing a small pistol and a pair of brass knuckles was found and turned over to police.
- Preliminary assessments: On-scene officers thought it resembled a race-starting pistol; a retired NYPD gun-squad detective said it looked like a Ruger .38-caliber handgun.
- Sources: Initial reporting summarized by the Independent Journal Review article and subsequent republication by UNILAD.
Main story
What happened
City monitoring and reporting indicate Silver Lake Reservoir’s volume dropped from about 361.5 million gallons in October to roughly 239.5 million gallons by mid‑December, well under its 400-million-gallon capacity. The deliberate drawdown for conservation exposed rocks and shoreline normally under water, revealing debris and, notably, a tightly wrapped package that contained a small handgun and brass knuckles.
Who found it
Chris Sammon, described as a lifelong Staten Island resident and avid fisherman, walked into newly exposed areas after reading about the low levels. Expecting bottles or trash, he instead found the tape-wrapped object, opened it, and then handed the items to police because he feared they might relate to an unsolved crime or present a public-safety risk.
“I thought it would be old bottles or trash,” the finder told local outlets, adding that he turned the items over to authorities rather than keep them.
Police response and expert view
Authorities responded after Sammon alerted them. Early on-scene assessments by officers suggested the firearm resembled a race-starting pistol (a blank-firing device used at track events). A retired NYPD gun-squad detective who viewed images said the weapon looked like a Ruger .38-caliber handgun. Neither the New York City Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) nor the NYPD has released an official, public confirmation about weapon type, ownership, or criminal links.
Other items exposed
Beyond the taped package, the drawdown revealed discarded phones, golf balls, long-buried infrastructure pipes and assorted trash — a visible record of materials that accumulate in and around reservoirs over time.
Why the reservoir dropped and public access
The DEP manages Silver Lake and identified the drawdown as a deliberate conservation measure. With fences and posted warnings still in place, exposed shoreline areas drew curious residents who walked around barriers to explore. City officials have urged the public to respect restricted zones for safety and infrastructure protection.
What remains unknown
As of this report there are no public updates indicating whether ballistics testing or serial-number tracing has been completed, nor whether the brass knuckles have been traced. News coverage beyond initial reports is limited, and there are no widely available NYPD or DEP press releases clarifying forensic results or investigative links to prior crimes.
Legal and public-safety concerns
A weapon found near a public water-supply area can be evidence of past criminal activity or simply the result of disposal or vandalism. Brass knuckles are illegal in many jurisdictions and carry penalties. The discovery underscores the need for strict chain-of-evidence procedures and better enforcement of restricted public-works areas to deter trespassing and preserve safety.
Silver Lake discovery in context — Implications for Alamogordo, New Mexico
Local officials elsewhere — including cities like Alamogordo — can take practical lessons from the incident:
- Public-safety training: Reinforce protocols for civilians who encounter potential evidence near water supplies.
- Water management: Anticipate that drawdowns reveal hazards and infrastructure needing inspection.
- Property protection: Schedule inspections when levels change to protect pipes and infrastructure.
- Recreation guidance: Remind anglers and visitors to avoid restricted zones and report suspicious items rather than handle them.
- Community trust: Provide timely updates and visible enforcement to reduce rumors and maintain public confidence.
Sources and reporting notes
This account relies on early reporting summarized by the Independent Journal Review article and a republication by UNILAD. DEP water-volume figures cited in reporting were used to contextualize the drawdown. At the time of publication there were no additional official NYPD or DEP updates available publicly. Further reporting and official statements are required to confirm weapon type, forensic testing results and any law-enforcement conclusions.
Note: Readers should expect updates if investigators link the recovered items to prior crimes or release forensic findings; for now, the discovery remains an early-stage developing story.
