A former New York State Trooper faces charges after allegedly staging a shooting incident, wounding himself and misleading authorities about the circumstances. 27-year-old Thomas Mascia is accused of shooting himself in the leg at Hempstead Lake State Park last year, then driving to a Long Island highway to report being shot by an unknown assailant. Prosecutors also allege he planted shell casings at the scene of the self-inflicted injury.

Mascia resigned from the force on Friday, having served since 2019. He was suspended without pay in November as state police investigated the incident. He now faces charges of official misconduct, evidence tampering, and falsifying documents.

Mascia's parents, Dorothy and Thomas, were also charged with criminal possession of a firearm after the .22-caliber handgun used in the shooting was discovered in their bedroom. All three individuals pleaded not guilty and were released pending their next court appearance on February 5th.

Prosecutors suggest Mascia staged the shooting to gain sympathy and attention. Nassau County District Attorney Anne Donnelly condemned his actions as an "unconscionable" deception, highlighting the fear such an act creates. The family's attorney, Jeffrey Lichtman, countered that Mascia has long struggled with untreated mental health issues, emphasizing the family's suffering resulting from this situation.

Mascia initially claimed he was shot on October 30th by someone driving a black sedan parked on the Southern State Parkway. He described the driver fleeing toward New York City in a vehicle with a temporary New Jersey registration, prompting a multi-day manhunt. Law enforcement confirmed the absence of video footage due to Mascia's body camera being deactivated at the time. Adding another layer to the story, Mascia's father was dismissed from the NYPD in 1993 following a guilty plea to cocaine distribution charges.