A former New York state trooper has been sent to jail for six months after he shot himself just to get attention from his ex-girlfriend and then made up a story blaming a “dark-skinned” man for the attack.
Thomas J. Mascia, who is 35 years old, pleaded guilty earlier this year to several charges, including lying to police, tampering with evidence, and misconduct while on duty. The court sentenced him on October 22, 2025. Along with six months in jail, he also got five years of probation, has to pay nearly $290,000, and must go through mental health treatment.
Prosecutors said his lies caused a massive waste of time and money. Police officers spent hundreds of hours searching for a fake gunman, roads were closed, and the public was scared for no reason. The Nassau County District Attorney said his actions were planned and disgraceful.
The whole thing started on October 30, 2024. Mascia called over his police radio, claiming that a man had shot him in the leg during a traffic stop. He said the shooter was a “dark-skinned” man driving a dark-colored Dodge Charger with temporary New Jersey plates. His call led to a huge manhunt. Police from different departments searched the area, helicopters flew overhead, and roads were blocked.
Mascia was taken to the hospital with a minor injury. But when investigators started digging, his story quickly fell apart. They found a .22-calibre rifle at his home that matched the bullet taken from his leg. Security footage also showed no other car in the area when he claimed he was shot. Investigators later learned that he had driven to a park, shot himself, and then faked the whole scene by placing shell casings on the road.
Prosecutors said he did all this because he wanted to impress his ex-girlfriend, who worked as a nurse. He even made sure he was treated at her hospital after pretending to be a hero shot in the line of duty.
It also came out that Mascia had lied once before, back in 2022, when he claimed he was hit by a car in a hit-and-run. However, at that time, investigators didn’t have enough proof to charge him.
This time, his lie caught up with him, and it cost him his job, his reputation, and his freedom.