10-Year-Old Finds Loaded Gun In Coney Island Sand, Prompting Call For Increased Parks Enforcement

A 10-year-old girl was digging through the sand on Coney Island Monday afternoon when she uncovered a loaded handgun.

The girl and her mother were at the water’s edge near West 19th Street at approximately 2:15 p.m. on Monday when they found the .9mm pistol loaded with one bullet, according to the Daily News.

They brought it to a lifeguard who called police. The cops came, recovered the weapon and then destroyed it at the stationhouse.

The incident has local Councilman Mark Treyger reiterating his call for more Parks Enforcement Patrol officers on area beaches.

“Hearing that a child came across a loaded handgun while simply playing in the sand was shocking and concerning to say the least. I am very relieved that nobody was injured or killed as a result, and I am not willing to keep taking chances when it comes to the public’s safety in Coney Island. This must serve as a wakeup call to City Hall and the Parks Department regarding the need to provide additional Parks Enforcement Patrol officers to our community, especially given the increasing number of New Yorkers and tourists visiting Coney Island,” said Treyger, via press release.

Treyger also called for more PEP officers earlier this summer after 10-year-old Takara McDuffy drowned in Coney Island. The girl fell into the water after the beach was closed, and their were no lifeguards on duty. Treyger said PEP officers should be hired to patrol the beaches when they’re closed to ensure no one goes near the water.

The pol says that having more PEP officers on the beach would ease the burden on the 60th Precinct.