After people find weapon in tall grass, Kirby police advise on what do if you find gun

Gun found while doing yard work

KIRBY, Texas – Kirby police are warning members of the public to be careful if they find a gun on the side of the road. Police said this is not an uncommon occurrence in any city, and it happened to someone doing yardwork Sunday.

Beverly Harvey Lay said her nephew picked up the metal object laying in tall grass as he was getting ready to mow the lawn.

“He didn’t know it was a gun until he picked it up,” she said.

He put it down and quickly called police.

Lt. James Laymon, of the Kirby Police Department, said the gun could have easily been fired. It was completely unsafe.  

“This weapon was found with a round in the chamber and three rounds in the magazine, so it would have discharged if the trigger would have been pulled,” he said. “It was self-cycling, so it would have continued to do so three more times.”

The gun was reported stolen from a vehicle in Schertz in 2017.

The gun was found just feet away from a park and senior center. Lay said it was found right next to the road where children walk to school each day.

“The kids walk by all the time. They come to play basketball. They walk home from school. If one of them had found it, what in the world would have happened?” she said. “All they had to do was pull the trigger.”

Police said the gun was rusted, and it’s difficult to determine how long it had been out there. The last time the grass was mowed was about a month ago, according to Lay.

Police said anyone, even an adult, who comes across a gun needs to call police, not try to pick up the gun and stay with the gun until an officer arrives.  

“If you’re unfamiliar with a gun, don’t pick it up. Stay with the weapon. If you have your phone, call us. If you don’t, flag someone down who does," Laymon said.

The gun will be handed over to the Schertz Police Department, which will check to see if the gun has been involved in any reported crimes since it was stolen.

Police urge gun owners to be careful with their weapons. 

“Handguns will make their way out there and make a lot more damage than any other valuable you can leave in your vehicle,” Laymon said.


About the Author:

Patty Santos joined the KSAT 12 News team in July 2017. She has a proven track record of reporting on hard-hitting news that affects the community.