The New York State Police are currently investigating the circumstances surrounding an incident involving Trooper Thomas Mascia, who reported being shot while on duty in West Hempstead on Long Island. According to CBS News New York, authorities executed a search warrant at Mascia's residence, escalating the scrutiny around last week's shooting. The details of the case remain under wraps as the investigation persists.
State Police have refrained from disclosing specifics, asserting only that the inquiry into the events reported on October 30th is ongoing. Mascia, 27, claimed he was shot in the leg by an individual he had pulled over on the Southern State Parkway, a shooter who reportedly then fled the scene. Notably, Mascia did not have his body camera active during the incident; he explained that this was because his front lights were not activated, only the rear flashing lights, according to CBS News New York.
After the shooting, Trooper Mascia managed to administer first aid to himself and was subsequently taken to Nassau University Medical Center for surgery. He was released on Friday, greeted by the applause of colleagues and the support of his community. His swift action and self-care in the face of peril were matched only by the prompt response of his fellow troopers, who assisted him following the incident. His community considers Mascia a hero, evidenced not only in their warm reception of his hospital discharge but also in the words of his neighbor, who told Eyewitness News that the trooper, previously hit by a car on duty, "helps us shovel the snow" and is "so kind and caring."
Mascia's shooting initiated a manhunt, drawing in the NYPD and federal agencies as police sought the suspect's vehicle, described as a dark Dodge Charger with distinctive features and temporary New Jersey plates. The reported assailant remains at large, but a $15,000 reward has been offered for information leading to an arrest. It was a symbol of the city's resolve, standing not merely as a monetary incentive but as a manifestation of the aggression against crime—a sum that betrays how deeply the community felt the sting of this once-quiet parkway marred by violence. "I'm going home," Mascia told well-wishers as he left the hospital, a statement that, while brief, spoke of the trooper's resilience, gathered from ABC7 New York's reporting.
