Trooper Thomas Mascia, shot on Southern State Parkway, out of hospital as search for suspect continues
A Long Island state trooper, shot while on patrol late Wednesday night on the Southern State Parkway, left the hospital Friday afternoon as authorities said the search for the shooter continued.
Hundreds of state troopers and Nassau County police stood in formation and applauded as Trooper Thomas Mascia, 27, was led out of Nassau University Medical Center in a wheelchair.
"I’m feeling good," said Mascia, smiling and with his right leg bandaged.
Both the trooper's parents kissed the top of his head before doctors and his family brought him to a minivan.
New York State Police Capt. Timothy Gleason said the agency was glad to have Mascia going home as authorities continue to search for the person who shot the trooper.
"While we were angry beyond words for what was done to him, we are also extremely grateful that today he is going home," Gleason said, adding that the law enforcement community will continue to support Mascia throughout his recovery.
"Tom’s assailant remains at large and is an extremely dangerous person," Gleason said, while extending an appeal for members of the public to report "any information they have so that we can capture this individual."
At about 11:45 p.m. Wednesday, Mascia approached a black car, believed to be a Dodge Charger, that he thought was stranded on the median of the Southern State Parkway in West Hempstead before gunshots rang out, according to authorities.
Mascia was shot in the right leg, near his knee, and had surgery Thursday, when police officials said he was "alert and conscious" while in stable condition. Mascia is a Nassau County resident who state police said has served on the force since 2019.
He was patrolling by himself on the westbound Southern State Parkway just east of Exit 17 when he saw the dark sedan parked on the left median, according to authorities.
Mascia realized he was wounded after he heard gunshots and then retreated behind his patrol car as the vehicle sped away westbound, police said.
State police Superintendent Steven James said previously Mascia was unable to return fire because the suspect immediately fled, but the trooper treated his wound by applying a tourniquet and called for assistance.
Police said the suspect was believed to be male and had a temporary New Jersey license tag: 997-636T. The car also had rear tinted windows and custom matte gray dual-exhaust tips.
State police spokeswoman Trooper Brittany Burton said Friday police haven't located the car and haven't been able to trace the license tag.
Nassau County Police Commissioner Patrick Ryder said outside the hospital his personnel are helping state police officials with intelligence information and any other assistance they may need during the investigation.
On Friday, Kellenberg Memorial High School chaplain the Rev. Thomas Cardone was among those who came to NUMC to greet Mascia, an alumnus of the school, and wish him a speedy recovery.
"When you see him as a police officer right now, it's not a surprise," said Cardone. "That sense of service and reaching out to other people always constituted as part of who he was as a young kid and now as young man, and we wish him the best."
State police officials have asked anyone with information about the shooting to call the agency at 631-756-3300.
Multiple organizations are offering rewards for tips in the case, including the New York City-based group Cop Shot, which announced a $10,000 reward for information leading to an arrest and conviction.
With Maureen Mullarkey
A Long Island state trooper, shot while on patrol late Wednesday night on the Southern State Parkway, left the hospital Friday afternoon as authorities said the search for the shooter continued.
Hundreds of state troopers and Nassau County police stood in formation and applauded as Trooper Thomas Mascia, 27, was led out of Nassau University Medical Center in a wheelchair.
"I’m feeling good," said Mascia, smiling and with his right leg bandaged.
Both the trooper's parents kissed the top of his head before doctors and his family brought him to a minivan.
New York State Police Capt. Timothy Gleason said the agency was glad to have Mascia going home as authorities continue to search for the person who shot the trooper.
"While we were angry beyond words for what was done to him, we are also extremely grateful that today he is going home," Gleason said, adding that the law enforcement community will continue to support Mascia throughout his recovery.
"Tom’s assailant remains at large and is an extremely dangerous person," Gleason said, while extending an appeal for members of the public to report "any information they have so that we can capture this individual."
At about 11:45 p.m. Wednesday, Mascia approached a black car, believed to be a Dodge Charger, that he thought was stranded on the median of the Southern State Parkway in West Hempstead before gunshots rang out, according to authorities.
Mascia was shot in the right leg, near his knee, and had surgery Thursday, when police officials said he was "alert and conscious" while in stable condition. Mascia is a Nassau County resident who state police said has served on the force since 2019.
He was patrolling by himself on the westbound Southern State Parkway just east of Exit 17 when he saw the dark sedan parked on the left median, according to authorities.
Mascia realized he was wounded after he heard gunshots and then retreated behind his patrol car as the vehicle sped away westbound, police said.
State police Superintendent Steven James said previously Mascia was unable to return fire because the suspect immediately fled, but the trooper treated his wound by applying a tourniquet and called for assistance.
Police said the suspect was believed to be male and had a temporary New Jersey license tag: 997-636T. The car also had rear tinted windows and custom matte gray dual-exhaust tips.
State police spokeswoman Trooper Brittany Burton said Friday police haven't located the car and haven't been able to trace the license tag.
Nassau County Police Commissioner Patrick Ryder said outside the hospital his personnel are helping state police officials with intelligence information and any other assistance they may need during the investigation.
On Friday, Kellenberg Memorial High School chaplain the Rev. Thomas Cardone was among those who came to NUMC to greet Mascia, an alumnus of the school, and wish him a speedy recovery.
"When you see him as a police officer right now, it's not a surprise," said Cardone. "That sense of service and reaching out to other people always constituted as part of who he was as a young kid and now as young man, and we wish him the best."
State police officials have asked anyone with information about the shooting to call the agency at 631-756-3300.
Multiple organizations are offering rewards for tips in the case, including the New York City-based group Cop Shot, which announced a $10,000 reward for information leading to an arrest and conviction.
With Maureen Mullarkey
John Asbury is a breaking news and general assignment reporter. He has been with Newsday since 2014 and previously worked at The Press-Enterprise in Riverside, California.
