UPDATED 12/2/16, 2:30 p.m.:
The Jefferson Parish Sheriff’s Office held a press conference on Friday afternoon to address their investigation into Joe McKnight’s death. During that press conference, Sheriff Newell Normand refused to reveal many details about the investigation, but he did attempt to dispel several of the stories that have been reported with regards to McKnight’s death.
Sheriff Normand said that the department’s investigation has shown that Ronald Gasser, who shot and killed McKnight, fired three shots at McKnight from inside of his vehicle. He also said that Gasser did not stand over McKnight and shoot him, as has been previously reported. Additionally, he said that there is no proof that McKnight was in the act of apologizing to Gasser as one witness has suggested, and he also said that there is no known video evidence of the shooting.
Sheriff Normand said his department is still working to speak with other witnesses to the shooting. You can watch his press conference here:
See original story below.
The man who shot and killed former NFL player Joe McKnight on Thursday afternoon outside of New Orleans was released from police custody overnight and has not yet been charged with a crime in connection to McKnight’s death. Ronald Gasser, 54, is "definitely" responsible for killing McKnight, according to a Jefferson Parish Sheriff’s Office spokesperson who spoke with TMZ Sports. But there are reportedly "questions about the circumstances surrounding what led up to" the shooting that police are still trying to answer.
According to initial reports, Gasser allegedly killed McKnight after an argument at an intersection in Terrytown, Louisiana. A woman who witnessed the incident said that she saw a man yell at McKnight before shooting him several times. That witness claims the man then stood over McKnight and said, “I told you don’t you f*ck with me,” before shooting him again. Gasser was later identified as the shooter after he reportedly stayed on the scene until police arrived and turned his gun over to them. The Jefferson Parish Sheriff’s Department has revealed that McKnight did not have a gun on him or in his vehicle during the dispute.
While Gasser has been released from police custody, an investigation into McKnight’s death is still ongoing and the fact that Gasser hasn’t been charged yet doesn’t mean he won’t be charged at some point in the near future. Police are asking for anyone who has any information about the shooting or the events that led up to it to contact them immediately.
