Overview

• Thomas Mascia, a former New York State trooper, shot himself in October 2024 and falsely claimed he was attacked, prompting a costly manhunt and public alarm.
• Mascia’s plea hearing, originally scheduled for May 7, 2025, was postponed after he told the judge he was not mentally well enough to proceed.
• The court must confirm Mascia’s mental fitness to accept a plea deal, which includes jail time, probation, mental health treatment, and restitution of $289,000 for the resources spent during the fabricated manhunt.
• Mascia’s parents, facing charges of illegal firearm possession, also had their plea hearings rescheduled to May 21, 2025.
• Investigators revealed that Mascia staged the shooting to gain attention and sympathy, undermining public trust in law enforcement.