JEFFERSON PARISH, LA – Former USC star and NFL running back Joe McKnight was fatally gunned down last week in New Orleans.
After initially being released from police custody free of chargers, the man who shot McKnight has been arrested on a manslaughter charge, according to online jail records.
Via USA Today –
A spokesperson for the Jefferson Parish (La.) Sheriff’s Office declined to comment on the arrest of 54-year-old Ronald Gasser, who remained at the scene of Thursday’s fatal shooting and was questioned by police. A news conference was scheduled for 11 a.m. ET Tuesday where details of the case are expected be made public.
Gasser was released from custody Friday morning, although Jefferson Parish (La.) Sheriff’s Office spokesperson Colonel John Fortunato told USA TODAY Sports at the time that the incident “remains under investigation.”
Jefferson Parish Sheriff Newell Normand said on Friday that the shooting in in Terrytown, La., was “the culmination of a road rage incident” and Gasser fired three shots — each hitting McKnight, who was pronounced dead at the scene.
Gasser handed over a semi-automatic handgun to the officers who responded to the shooting, the sheriff’s department said.
Thursday’s fatal incident occurred at the same intersection where Gasser allegedly assaulted another motorist in February 2006.
“During this incident, the victim/reporting person, identified only as a 51-year-old white male from Marrero, called 911 in Jefferson Parish to report that a male subject was driving a red pick-up truck unsafely on Holiday Drive,” according to a news release from the Jefferson Parish Sheriff’s Office. “The victim observed a phone number on the truck to call if the vehicle was being operated unsafely. When the victim called the phone number, an individual, later identified as Ronald Gasser, told the victim he was the one driving the red pick-up truck.”
Gasser followed the man to a gas station where Gasser allegedly struck the man several times. Gasser was charged battery, although the charge was later dropped.
