The man suspected of fatally shooting former NFL player Joe McKnight has been indicted on a second-degree murder charge by a grand jury, the Jefferson Parrish District Attorney’s Office said Thursday.
If convicted of the charge Ronald Gasser Jr., faces life in prison at hard labor, “without benefit of parole, probation or suspension of sentence,” the district attorney’s office said.
Gasser is suspected of fatally shooting McKnight, who played for the New York Jets and Kansas City Chiefs, in an apparent road rage incident in Terrytown, Louisiana, on Dec. 1. McKnight was 28.
Gasser had previously been arrested for manslaughter. However, the district attorney’s office said, the second-degree murder indictment resulted from additional evidence developed jointly by the Jefferson Parish Sheriff’s Office and the Jefferson Parish District Attorney’s Office.
A New Orleans native, McKnight was a high school football standout who was recruited to play running back for the University of Southern California in 2007. He entered the NFL Draft in 2010 and was selected in the fourth round by the New York Jets.
The Times-Picayune reported that a witness observed McKnight arguing with another man at an intersection in Terrytown. She said McKnight was trying to apologize when the man drew a gun and shot McKnight multiple times.
According to the account, the shooter then allegedly stood over McKnight and said, “I told you, don’t you f– with me” before firing again.
However, Jefferson Parish Sheriff Newell Normand subsequently denied that account during a press conference.
“Mr. Gasser did not stand over Mr. McKnight and fire shots into him,” he said. “The three casings were located in the vehicle. Mr. Gasser was in his vehicle when he fired three shots.”