Man who says he shot CFL player is charged with manslaughter

Ronald Gasser, the man authorities say shot former National Football League player Joe McKnight during a road rage incident, was arrested Monday (Dec. 5) on a manslaughter charge, according to the jail records from Jefferson Parish Sheriff’s Office. Later Monday, however, Gasser was arrested and charged with manslaughter.

Some TV networks cut away from the news conference as Normand then recited vulgar, expletive-filled comments he said members of his investigative team had received from people angry about the decision to release Gasser on Thursday. That statement ignited a furor on social media and beyond, implying that race was a factor when Gasser, who is white, was released after shooting McKnight, a black man.

“Shame on that individual”, Normand said of the witness who had been quoted extensively in reports of the incident. “For sure, in some cases”.

“Our arrest is only as good as the prosecution”, he said. Authorities have said they are trying to determine why it was dismissed.

Key witnesses were located on Saturday and Monday evening, Normand said, and they might not have come forward had authorities rushed forward with an arrest to appease critics of the Jefferson Parish Sheriff’s Office.

On Friday, Gasser reportedly handed over a semi-automatic gun to police and confessed to killing McKnight, who was pronounced dead at the scene.

Gasser admitted to shooting McKnight and submitted to hours of questioning by police. Gasser was charged with battery, although the charge was later dropped. A misdemeanor charge stemming from the incident was later dismissed, however, according to CNN.com.

Potential witnesses were identified using a license plate reader in the area, Normand said.

In the “totality of his statement”, there were a number of things Gasser said that didn’t add up, Normand said.

Apples to Apples. Ronald Gasser walks free, uncharged an unconcerned. There was a auto in front of and behind Gasser’s vehicle, and McKnight’s auto was on the passenger side of Gasser’s vehicle.

“At some point, Mr. McKnight exits his vehicle and goes to Mr. Gasser’s auto”, Normand said.

In talking to witnesses, Normand says they have been able to paint a rough picture of what happened in the lead up to McKnight being shot.

As I’d stated previously, Louisiana’s implementation of “stand your ground” law would not be a factor in this case.

McKnight was unarmed at the time of the shooting.

Normand said that on Thursday both Gasser and McKnight had been spotted driving erratically. “You can be outraged but you can do it within yourself”, Johanna McKnight said. Gasser, from inside his vehicle, fired several shots at McKnight, who had exited his vehicle.

McKnight played for the Trojans from 2007-2010. He was a fourth-round draft pick of the Jets in 2010 and played three seasons for NY. He spent one season with Kansas City.