Shooter in McKnight road rage killing charged

Sheriff Newell Normand of Jefferson Parish, Louisiana held a press conference addressing the arrest of Ronald Gasser, the suspect in the shooting death of former National Football League player Joe McKnight.

Well today, everyone can take a bit of solace in knowing that Gasser has officially been arrested and jailed on a charge of manslaughter.

Jefferson Parish police allowed Gasser, who was cited in 2006 for another violent road rage incident in the same spot, to remain free during their investigation, prompting criticism that authorities were being too lax because Gasser, 54, is white.

Normand laid out the most detailed account of the shooting yet during a lengthy press conference that verged into the profane as Normand read printouts of apparent social media posts criticizing his decision to release accused McKnight killer Ronald Gasser shortly after the incident. On Tuesday, Normand defended his office’s move to charge Gasser later rather than sooner. “It’s about what we want and what we want now”. “And we’re castigating people that are trying to do the right thing”.

“This isn’t about race”, he said.

According to Sheriff Normand, the shooting was not racially motivated because the perpetrator allegedly didn’t use any racial slurs during the incident. Unfortunately, a life was lost. “You rat ass faggot, punk.’ That’s the tone of what we’re calling our elected leaders for standing up and simply saying ‘let justice prevail and let the process take its course, ‘” Normand said.

Normand said both of the men were “engaged in unacceptable behavior” and “did not understand how to deal with conflict resolution”. According to the Washington Post, the sheriff did not say whether McKnight tried to pry open the door, but bent down to speak to Gasser “eye to eye”.

McKnight then got out of his vehicle and approached Gasser’s auto, where he was shot.

Ultimately, they got to a red light at the intersection of Berman Highway and Holmes Boulevard in Terrytown, La. outside New Orleans.

Gasser fired at McKnight at least three times from inside his own auto, police said. McKnight exited his vehicle, and a verbal altercation ensued. “There continues to be a verbal altercation”.

Gasser pulled a gun from between his seat and console and fired three shots through his passenger window at McKnight, the sheriff said. Normand said both the gun and the auto belong to McKnight’s step-father.

MSNBC quickly cut away from the press conference once Normand began reading the comments, which contained a variety of words not appropriate for broadcast. Additionally, the victim saw a “How am I Driving” sticker on the truck that had a number to call if the vehicle was not being operated in a safe manor.