Crime & Safety
Joe McKnight Murder Trial Underway In Road-Rage Shooting
Defense attorneys have painted McKnight as the aggressor in the shooting and are expected to argue Ronald Gasser killed him in self-defense.
GRETNA, LA — The murder trial began Tuesday for the man accused of gunning down former NFL football player Joe McKnight in a severe case of road rage outside of New Orleans. A judge and attorneys interviewed dozens of potential jurors in Ronald Gasser's case.
Gasser, 56, stands accused of second-degree murder in the Dec. 1, 2016, shooting of the former New York Jets running back and local high school football star. He was initially charged with manslaughter but later indicted on the more serious charge in February. Gasser, who pleaded not guilty, remains jailed with bond set at $750,000. He wore a dark blue pinstripe suit in court on Tuesday and was accompanied by deputies.
McKnight, 28, was considered a top recruit when he came out of John Curtis Christian School. He played college ball at Southern California followed by three professional seasons with the Jets and one with the Kansas City Chiefs.
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Gasser's attorneys have painted McKnight as the aggressor and are expected to argue Gasser killed him in self-defense.
If convicted of second-degree murder, Gasser would face a mandatory sentence of life in prison.
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Police said the confrontation took place as the men traveled across a Mississippi River bridge in New Orleans and on roads in neighboring Jefferson Parish.
Authorities said the shooting happened after both cars had stopped and McKnight approached Gasser's vehicle. Gasser shot McKnight three times.
Defense attorneys said last year that they believe McKnight tried to enter Gasser's car through the passenger window. They noted that Gasser stayed on the scene after the shooting and said he cooperated with police.
The case bore striking similarities to an earlier 2016 shooting death involving another former NFL player. Will Smith, who retired after starring on New Orleans Saints teams that inspired the city after Hurricane Katrina with winning seasons and a 2010 Super Bowl victory, was shot to death during a confrontation following a traffic crash. A 29-year-old New Orleans man, Cardell Hayes, was sentenced to 25 years in prison after a jury convicted him of manslaughter.
By KEVIN McGILL, Associated Press
Photo credit: Tom Gannam/Associated Press