New York State Police have launched a criminal probe into a trooper who claimed he was shot and wounded by an unknown gunman on a Long Island highway last week.

New York State Police have suspended a trooper without pay after launching an investigation into his account of being shot and wounded while trying to help a motorist on a Long Island highway

The trooper, Thomas Mascia, 27, was suspended without pay this week, New York State Police Major Stephen Udice said at a press briefing on Wednesday. He said the agency was conducting both criminal and internal investigations into the circumstances of the shooting that Mascia reported as happening around 11:45 p.m. last Wednesday.

Authorities have launched an internal investigation in the case of a New York State trooper who said he was shot by a suspect on Long Island's Southern State Parkway last week, authorities said Monday.

NY State Police are investigating Trooper Mascia, who was suspended after doubts arose over his claim of being shot on duty.