WTNH.com

Parole board denies commutation to release Waterbury convicted killer

WATERBURY, Conn. (WTNH) — The state’s parole board heard arguments to potentially release a convicted killer decades ahead of schedule.

It’s been 25 years since Scott Mascia was shot in a drive-by while coming home from the gym. Four years later, police arrested Anthony Azukas for the 20-year-old’s death.

Azukas was sentenced to 60 years in prison, a penalty that the Connecticut Supreme Court upheld in 2006. But, last week, Mascia’s family was notified that Azukas had a commutation hearing on Wednesday.

During the hearing, the parole board decided to deny his commutation.

The family said Azukaras has never apologized or shown any remorse for killing their son. They’re urging the state parole board to keep him incarcerated and asking for the same to be done to other violent offenders behind bars.

“We want them in there because we fear for our lives if he gets out,” Pat Mascia, Scott’s father, said. “Who knows if he’s going to come after us or have somebody else come after us? I don’t know.”

Letting Azukas out before the 60 years is up, Pat Mascia said, would be disrespectful to his son’s memory.

“I don’t care what he does after that,” he said. “If he dies, I don’t care. I just want him in there.”