New York State Police investigations are deepening into the circumstances surrounding a trooper who claimed he was shot in the leg while on duty. The trooper, Thomas Mascia, 27, was suspended without pay after the incident, which took place on Long Island’s Southern State Parkway. During a press conference, State Police confirmed that a criminal investigation has been launched in addition to their internal inquiry, citing that there are “a number of questions that need answering.” Officials have posited doubts about the nature of the incident, as they now believe “the incident did not occur the way it was reported,” according to a statement by authorities obtained by NBC New York.
Initially, Trooper Mascia reported he was responding to what appeared to be a stranded motorist on the night of October 30th. Nevertheless, Nassau County District Attorney Anne Donnelly noted “inconsistencies” in Mascia’s account of that night, which led to the termination of the search for the alleged gunman, as reported by PIX11. Shrouded in the question of the mishap of Mascia turning on only the rear lights of his patrol car, his body camera failed to capture the incident. State Police said Mascia only activated the rear lights of the bar, which did not trigger the body camera that would have automatically turned on with the full activation of the patrol car’s roof lights.
Adding to the complex narrative, a large sum of cash and multiple weapons were uncovered at Mascia’s residence, detailed in a warranted search earlier this week. The find has further muddied the waters surrounding the narrative first put forth by Mascia. His issued firearm, shield, and ID were subsequently confiscated after the discovery, and the suspended officer now sees his career and credibility caught in the balance of both internal and external criminal probes.
Sources familiar with the investigation speculate that wrongly placed in front of the scrutiny, Mascia may have shot himself – a possibility that challenges the initial portrayal of an external assailant. Although officials remained tight-lipped about specific violations, they confirmed Mascia’s suspension came after he was found to be in contravention of State Police rules and standards. To date, officials are no longer on the lookout for the described black sedan involved, nor are they seeking additional persons of interest, shifting the focus solely on Mascia’s narrative and actions on that October night.
Neither Mascia nor his legal representation have been available to respond to inquiries while the New York State Police Benevolent Association, the union that represents state troopers, has distanced itself, stating it is not involved in the case but continues to monitor developments.
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