MEMPHIS, Tenn. - A handgun stolen from an exhibit during last week's commemoration of the 30th anniversary of Elvis Presley's death has been recovered.

Surveillance video showed a man reaching into a display case at the "Elvis After Dark" exhibit at Graceland, Presley's mansion, and removing a black, 9 mm Smith & Wesson pistol on Aug 14.

Travis Brookins turned the gun over to police Monday after the theft was reported by news media.

Brookins said he was cleaning portable toilets behind the exhibit hall last Thursday when he found the gun in the muck. Unaware the weapon had been stolen, Brookins took it home and cleaned it.

"He called us and said he thinks he had the gun and brought it to us," Memphis police Lt. Jerry Gwyn said.

Gwyn said he believes the thief may have accidentally dropped the gun into the toilet.

"Of course, whoever dropped it wouldn't go in there," he said.

Presley died at Graceland on Aug. 16, 1977, and is buried in a small garden beside the house.

Tens of thousands of fans were in Memphis last week for various ceremonies marking the anniversary of Presley's death.

i heard about this on cnn.. they had it on camera... he reached right in the case and took it... thanks 4 postin!!!!

I'm so happy the gun is safely back at graceland now.

I'm glad it's back where it should be.

YW, Pj! I can't even believe that this happened!! Can you??? You'd think security would've been all over that guy.. but, there was a gazillion peep all over the place. I bet somebody got their a.ss chew'd out!

Like the rest of us, I am just so thankful that it was recovered! phew..

amen to that!!! Glad its back....

In the toilet: Stolen Elvis gun is found Pistol had been pilfered from case at museum across from Graceland

By Jody Callahan
Tuesday, August 21, 2007

Boy, this would've made Elvis mad enough to shoot another TV.

But luckily, the story of the theft of Elvis' gun has a happy ending.

It all began last Tuesday, when a thief who probably has never even eaten a peanut-butter-and-banana sandwich pilfered Elvis' gun from a museum across the street from Graceland.

Elvis Presley's black 9mm Smith & Wesson pistol was removed by a man from a display case at the "Elvis after Dark" museum. The man, wearing goofy sunglasses atop his head, just reached into the case and took the black 9 mm Smith and Wesson.

But, by pure luck, the gun was recovered and turned in to police Monday. Seems one Travis Brookins was cleaning the portable toilets behind the Elvis After Dark museum last Thursday when he found what he thought was a toy gun, dropped into that horrendous muck.

He took the piece home, cleaned it up and probably didn't think much else about it until news reports surfaced Monday.

"He called us and said he thinks he had the gun and brought it to us," Memphis police Lt. Jerry Gwyn said.

Turns out it was the same gun, police said, smelling a little better. It's now in their property room.

Surveillance video shows the thief -- wearing extra-long shorts and a camouflage T-shirt -- pushing open the glass case and snaking an arm in to snag the gun.

At some point, he must have stopped by the toilet on the way out, a decision perhaps sparked by adrenaline.

And that's when police believe he got fumbly fingers.

"It's a good possibility who ever took it accidentally dropped it in there," Gwyn said. "Of course, whoever dropped it wouldn't go in there."

The thief is still on the run, and police wonder if he's even from around here.

As anyone who's toured Graceland knows, the King was a fan of guns, even setting up a shooting gallery behind the house.

And we can't forget the infamous stories about Elvis using his pistols as, uh, an early form of remote control.

One story has Elvis shooting out a TV to express his feelings about entertainer Robert Goulet. Other stories claim the subject of his royal rage was Frank Sinatra or Mel Torme.

The folks at Graceland weren't saying much Monday, perhaps over embarrassment at the ease of the theft.

The thief better be wary, though: If the stories about Elvis still being alive are true, you can bet the King will take this personally.

Maybe Elvis will study the surveillance video and decide to go hunting. And this time, a TV might not be his target.

Glad they got it back!!!