Man suspected of killing ex-NFL player Joe McKnight released without charges

JEFFERSON PARRISH, La. — The man suspected of shooting and killing former NFL player Joe McKnight on Thursday afternoon was released overnight without being charged, authorities in Louisiana said on Friday.

Ronald Gasser, 54, is accused of killing the former NFL running back in what authorities characterized as a possible road rage incident in Terrytown.

"Gasser was released overnight and has not been charged as of yet," Cpl. John Fortunato, of the Jefferson Parrish Sheriff's Office, said in a statement to The Advocate. "The matter remains under investigation."

Fortunato told The Times-Picayune that investigators are working with the district attorney's office to determine whether any charges will be filed against Gasser.

Authorities were called around 2:45 p.m. Thursday after McKnight, 28, was shot at an intersection in Terrytown. Officers found him with multiple gunshot wounds and attempted to resuscitate him.

He was pronounced dead at the scene, and deputies took Gasser into custody. Authorities said he remained on the scene until law enforcement officers arrived and surrendered a gun to deputies.

Sheriff Newell Normand told The Times-Picayune that McKnight did not have a gun.

A witness, who was not identified, told The Advocate that she saw an armed man prior to the shooting and heard as several shots were fired. She saw the shot man wounded in the street and told The Advocate that he shouted "I told you don't (expletive) with me."

The man fired another shot after shouting, a witness told The Times-Picayune. Before the shooting, McKnight was attempting to apologize to the man, the witness said.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.

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