Police Find Ammunition, Automatic Weapons, Grenades at Mahopac House

Civilian and military bomb squads, state and local police and the ATF are among the experts called to the Mahopac home where massive amounts of weapons, explosives, munitions and ammunition were found, according to media reports. 

Clean-up was still in progress and roads blocked at noon June 28.

Members of the Carmel Police Department and EMTs from the Mahopac Volunteer Fire Department responded to 303 East Lake Blvd. around 11:35 p.m. June 25. Jonathan Orser, 41, apparently died from a gunshot wound to the chest. His wife reportedly found him after she returned home from a social gathering.

Orser was a former Marine, News12 reported. Lohud.com reported that there was also a tank in the back yard. Several news agencies have quoted Carmel Police Chief Mike Johnson as calling Orser a survivalist. 

"The shooting investigation, which does not appear to be suspicious, is continuing and a final determination has not been made," authorities said in a statement. "During the course of the investigation it was ascertained that the victim who was a gun aficionado may have automatic weapons and explosives in the residence."

Orser's wife allowed the Carmel Police to continue investigating. Officials from the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms, as well as the Westchester County Bomb Squad Special Operations Division, responded to the scene the evening of June 27. 

That's when authorities discovered everything else. Here's what officials say happened:

"The Westchester Bomb Squad and AFT removed blasting caps, low explosive powders, hand grenades, a large amount of ammunition, and a large cache of automatic weapons. A further examination revealed military ordinance stored in the basement. The military 725-Explosive Ordinance Disposal Unit based in Fort Drum, New York was requested and they arrived at 5 a.m. this (June 28) morning to complete the removal of the military ordinance. The explosives will be transported to West Point where they will be disposed of. Residences in the immediate area were evacuated while these operations are being conducted and East Lake Blvd. in the vicinity of the residence was also closed to traffic."

The tank, which had its gun barrel plugged, was legal. Much of the ordnance, including the grenades, was not. 

Several other officials—including members of members of the Mahopac Volunteer Fire Department and the Putnam County Sheriff's Office, and Putnam County Coroner Daniel Stephens—also responded.

Editor's note:

Ashley Tarr contributed to this report. It was originally published at 11:30 a.m. June 28, and has since been updated.