LONG ISLAND, NY – In a startling revelation, former New York State Trooper Thomas Mascia was found to have fabricated an alleged shooting incident, falsely accusing a Black man of being the perpetrator, according to The Root.
The incident reportedly occurred in October of 2024 during a traffic stop on Long Island’s Southern State Parkway. Mascia initially claimed that he had been shot in the leg by a Black or dark-skinned Hispanic male driving a black Dodge Charger.
However, subsequent investigations revealed that Mascia had staged the entire event, including planting shell casings and injuring himself, as The Root reports.
The fabrication led to a large-scale investigation and manhunt for the supposed assailant. Police resources were diverted to locate a suspect who never existed, causing widespread disruption and unnecessary fear in the community, The Root writes.
The incident drew criticism from civil rights advocates who highlighted the historical context of false accusations against Black individuals, which have often perpetuated racial injustice and deepened public mistrust in law enforcement, The Root said.
The New York State Police confirmed that the fabrication undermined public trust and wasted critical resources, and officials emphasized that such actions distract from legitimate public safety concerns, eroding confidence in policing efforts, as The Root explains, noting the incident adds to the growing call for systemic reforms to address biases and ensure transparent investigations.
Advocacy groups have pointed out that false accusations, particularly against individuals from minority communities, exacerbate racial tensions and have historically led to unjust outcomes for the falsely accused, writes The Root.
To be fair, the headline should state that he referred to a “dark skinned Hispanic man”, as well. Plus, he allegedly maligned drivers of Dodge Chargers.
And he hasn’t been convicted of anything so far.
But one would think it might be better to blame someone who is white, driving a large pickup, and wearing a Maga hat if you’re going to make up something like this. (Might draw less scrutiny.)