A former New York state trooper, Thomas Mascia, pled guilty to charges of shooting himself and falsely claiming he was attacked by an unknown gunman on a Long Island highway. The incident triggered a three-day search for a nonexistent shooter. During a court appearance in Nassau County, Mascia agreed to serve six months in jail, followed by five months of probation and ongoing mental health treatment. He also committed to paying $289,000 in restitution for the overtime costs incurred by officers who participated in the search.
Mascia was charged with official misconduct, tampering with evidence, and falsifying documents. He became a state trooper in 2019 but resigned after being suspended without pay amidst a criminal investigation into the shooting. His parents also pled guilty to firearm-related charges connected to the case.
On October 30, Mascia claimed to have been shot in the leg by a driver on the Southern State Parkway, describing the assailant as a “dark-skinned” man who fled the scene. However, prosecutors assert that Mascia actually shot himself in a local park, concealed the weapon, and then drove to the highway to summon help, suggesting that the act was an attempt to gain attention and sympathy.
During the court proceedings, prosecutors confirmed that Mascia deliberately lied about the events. When asked if he knew it was a lie, he replied affirmatively in a low voice. Both Mascia and his parents declined to speak to reporters after the court session. They are set to be sentenced on August 20. The defense attorney stated that Mascia had been struggling with untreated mental health issues for years.
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