New York State Police have initiated an inquiry into a trooper’s report of being shot while aiding a motorist on a highway in Long Island last week, a situation that led to a search for the alleged shooter.
On Monday, authorities disclosed that they executed a search warrant at Trooper Thomas Mascia’s home in West Hempstead as part of their investigation into the shooting incident reported on October 30.
Additionally, law enforcement officials revoked an alert for a black Dodge Charger with a temporary New Jersey registration that Mascia claimed was linked to the shooting.
In a statement on their website, the agency mentioned, “This remains an ongoing investigation, and further updates will follow,” indicating that the situation is still under active review.
Nassau County District Attorney Anne Donnelly confirmed her office’s support in examining “certain inconsistencies” regarding the shooting report, although a spokesperson refrained from providing further details, noting the ongoing nature of the investigation.
As part of the inquiry, police secured the area around Mascia’s residence in West Hempstead on Monday, and investigators were observed entering his home. Neighbors mentioned to a local news outlet that officers had begun door-to-door inquiries and were seeking footage from doorbell cameras on Sunday.
After being discharged from the hospital on Friday, Mascia has not responded to requests for comments via email and phone.
The New York State Police Benevolent Association, which represents state troopers, communicated that they are not participating in the investigation but are closely observing the developments.
During a press conference last week, New York State Police Superintendent Steven James described the incident, stating that the shooting occurred on the Southern State Parkway in West Hempstead, located around 30 miles (50 kilometers) east of Manhattan in suburban Nassau County.
According to James, Mascia, while patrolling the parkway just before midnight, noticed a black sedan parked on the left shoulder and approached it to provide assistance. However, upon exiting his patrol vehicle, he reported encountering gunfire, resulting in a leg injury, as the driver hastily fled west toward New York City.
The 27-year-old trooper, who began his duties in 2019, managed to apply a tourniquet to control the bleeding until additional officers arrived, as stated by James.
Authorities previously indicated that there was no video evidence of the incident since the trooper’s body camera had not been activated.
In the aftermath of the shooting, Suffolk County Crime Stoppers and a city-based organization, Cop Shot, collectively offered a reward of $15,000 for any information related to the case.