Tables have turned for a state trooper as he’s now going through felony fees for allegedly making up a capturing. The previous New York trooper was allegedly searching for “consideration or sympathy,” in response to a felony grievance, after officers say an investigation right into a reported capturing unexpectedly took a flip.
It began in October 2024 when Thomas Mascia “initiated a radio transmission for photographs fired” whereas on obligation, in response to the grievance obtained by ABC Information. The 27-year-old officer then “claimed he was shot by the driving force of a black Dodger Charger described as both a Black or dark-skinned Hispanic male.”
The alleged crime scene was briefly shut down by state police “in an effort to find the non-existent shooters, inflicting alarm and inconvenience to the general public,” the grievance mentioned. A multi-state manhunt was launched, involving legislation enforcement from New York, New Jersey and Delaware, mentioned Nassau County District Lawyer Anne Donnelly. She additionally added throughout a current information convention Mascia allegedly staged the Oct. 30 capturing after hours of preparation.
The 27-year-old allegedly dropped 9 .22-caliber shell casings on the scene and later drove to Hempstead Lake State Park the place he shot himself within the leg, in response to NBC Information. Then, Mascia allegedly introduced the identical gun to his house earlier than driving again to the parkway and reporting he had been shot, in response to officers.
“The proof uncovered and the absence of proof informed us the whole lot we wanted to know,” the district lawyer mentioned. “Although Mascia tried to cover his tracks, it didn’t take lengthy for everybody to uncover that his harrowing story was nothing greater than an elaborate work of fiction.”
An investigation into the matter was performed by state police and the district lawyer’s workplace, in response to ABC. They quickly discovered no proof to again Mascia’s testimony and a subsequent search of Mascia’s house, the place he lived along with his mother and father, solely received him into deeper hassle.
A second firearm was present in his house, however the issue is his father, Thomas, is a convicted felon, making it unlawful for him to be in possession of a gun, mentioned Donnelly. Each Thomas and his spouse, Dorothy, consequently turned themselves into police on Monday (Jan. 27) for felony possession of a firearm fees, in response to the district lawyer’s workplace.
Mascia additionally surrendered himself to police, in response to a spokesperson for the Nassau County District Lawyer’s Workplace. Now, he’s been charged with tampering with proof, false reporting of a criminal offense and official misconduct, in response to studies.
Jeffrey Lichtman, a lawyer for the Mascia household mentioned “There are lots of much less extreme and fewer harmful methods to garner sympathy that don’t embrace capturing oneself,” he mentioned. “This case is a tragedy that was brought on by unseen and untreated psychological well being points. And now a complete household is struggling for it as they often do in such conditions.”