Thomas Mascia, NY State Trooper Who Shot Himself to Impress Woman, Gets Favorable Plea Deal
Thomas Mascia, a former state trooper, got himself into some serious trouble after he shot himself during a traffic stop and then spun a crazy tale about it. This guy, who’s just 27, thought it’d be a good idea to claim that an armed driver shot him in the leg while he was on duty. Turns out, he was just trying to impress a woman.
Mascia’s little stunt went down on October 30, 2024, along the Southern State Parkway in West Hempstead. Initially, it sparked a massive manhunt for this supposed gunman. But, as investigators dug deeper, they figured out that Mascia had actually scattered bullet casings along the highway before turning the gun on himself.
Nassau District Attorney Anne T. Donnelly didn’t hold back when she commented on the situation. She said, “Thomas Mascia’s pathetic stunt put the public on edge and sent law enforcement in the tri-state area reeling.” She went on to explain how Mascia’s actions wasted resources and created unnecessary fear among the community. It’s pretty wild to think that one guy’s ego trip could cause so much chaos.
Mascia eventually copped to a plea deal in Nassau County court, admitting to charges like tampering with evidence and official misconduct. Instead of facing a three-year prison sentence, he’s looking at just six months behind bars. He’s set to be sentenced on August 20.
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As part of his probation, he’s gotta undergo mental health treatment and fork over a whopping $289,000 in restitution. That’s the cost of all the overtime that went into the three-day search for the nonexistent shooter.
State Police Superintendent Steven G. James weighed in, saying Mascia’s actions were a “deliberate betrayal of the public’s trust.” He pointed out that this whole mess not only endangered the safety of officers but also tarnished the reputation of every trooper out there who’s actually doing their job with integrity.
Mascia’s parents, Dorothy and Thomas, are also in hot water for an unrelated weapons charge. Interestingly, his dad is rumored to be linked to Michael Dowd, a former NYPD officer infamous for his corruption back in the day. They were both caught up in a cocaine ring back in the '90s, which just adds another layer to this already bizarre story.
