Queens Man Drowns in Maryland Reservoir, No Foul Play

Smith Veras, a 20-year-old from Queens, New York, drowned after attempting to swim with friends to an island in the Liberty Reservoir near Baltimore, Maryland, a prohibited and hazardous area. He disappeared halfway across the reservoir, prompting a multi-agency search and rescue operation that recovered his body on Saturday. Authorities stated that foul play is not suspected in Veras' death. The reservoir is known for sudden depth changes and cold temperatures, and swimming there is illegal due to safety concerns. Law enforcement has renewed warnings about the dangers of swimming in restricted waters and urged the public to obey posted signs. Veras' family, who traveled from New York, received support and condolences from authorities.