Sheriff department provides update on McKnight shooting

The Jefferson Parish Sheriff Office gave an update about the shooting death of Riders Running Back Joe McKnight Friday afternoon.

According to Sheriff Newell Normand, the shooter, 54-year-old Ronald Gasser, did not stand over top of McKnight and fire his gun at him, despite earlier reports.

“The three casings were located within the vehicle,” Normand said. “Mr. Gasser was in his vehicle when he fired three shots.”

Normand also said they have not located any video at this time and there are no witness accounts of an apology being made by McKnight to Gasser.

McKnight was fatally shot on Dec. 1 in an alleged case of road rage in the Louisiana suburb of Terrytown. Police confirm he was shot three times – twice in the chest and once in the hand.

Sheriff Normand was concerned about the different stories that have been making their way around social media and said the only stories to believe are the ones that come from himself, the coroner and the district attorney.

Normand said his department has already been accused of dropping the ball after they released Gasser from custody.

“External influences will not motivate this office one way or the other as too how we are going to conduct this investigation strategically.”

Normand said they do not currently know what led up to the incident but said “it may have been simply cutting one off in front of one recklessly while driving on the bridge.”

“Everybody wants to make this about race. This isn’t about race,” Normand said.

He also revealed the man who raised McKnight used to be a deputy with the department.

The investigation is currently underway and Normand said they still have witnesses they are trying to interview.