The man who allegedly shot and killed former NFL player Joe McKnight, in what was described as a road rage incident, has been released without charges.
Ronald Gasser, 54, was taken into custody for shooting McKnight, who was black, Thursday after the two had an altercation at an intersection in Terrytown, New Orleans, The Times-Picayune reported.
A witness who declined to give her name said she saw Gasser yelling at McKnight, who she claimed was trying to apologize, the Times-Picayune reported. She then said she saw Gasser shoot the former New York Jet and Kansas City Chiefs player.
“I told you don’t you f— with me,” she said she heard Gasser say after he shot McKnight and then she said he shot him again.
Police said McKnight was unarmed during the confrontation.
The sheriff’s office told the Daily Mail that Gasser, who stayed at the scene and handed his firearm over to police when they arrived, was “not charged as of yet, but it remains under investigation.”
Undoubtedly the police know more about what occurred than the general public does, but that didn’t stop social media sleuths from ascribing racism as both a motivation for the shooting and for Gasser’s release.
*Warning for harsh language.
An old white man allegedly killed a young black man in broad daylight, gave the gun to cops, and was later set free. https://t.co/HPPxQzilYx
— Jamil Smith (@JamilSmith) December 2, 2016
Joe McKnight shooting is the purest form of racism you will ever see. Shot him for no reason
— Michael Scott (@randyrichard) December 2, 2016
If Joe McKnight was white and his shooter were black justice would be served. This is the racism we talk about!
— From a G Perspective (@WhoDat_Des) December 2, 2016
The narrative spread like wildfire over social media.
Racism is still alive people, real Life Joe McKnight killer is a Free Man shit crazy
— LahWill (@AnitThatsWillie) December 2, 2016
https://twitter.com/eliy__diaz/status/804788328885260289
White Supremacy and all its priveliges.
Joe McKnight’s murderer, Ronald Gasser, is released! https://t.co/17oEuNtfXc#blacklivesmatter
— aafsec Malcolm Garvy (@aafsec) December 2, 2016
Please miss me with the "wait for facts" bs, he killed him that's enough fact!!! #joemcknight
— Niiiiiiitttttaaaaaa (@Nita_NitaNiiita) December 2, 2016
When you let a bunch of racist gun lobbyist write laws & teach cops how to enforce them, this is what you get. https://t.co/UVfxrUa2GI
— Gun Lobby Watch (@GunLobbyWatch) December 2, 2016
racist good ol’boy shitstem is alive and well…|| Joe McKnight’s killer, Ronald Gasser, released from custody https://t.co/RH6i23fFsX
— ☥ Hei Eesu ኸየ (@kaya_lah) December 2, 2016
But not just racism. No, for many the blame belongs to President-elect Donald Trump.
What happened to Joe McKnight is due to the entitlement these crackas now feel with Trump at the helm
We need to be prepared for anything
— Mr. 1017 ? (@theGrizzest) December 2, 2016
So now we are letting non cop white people execute black people too? Damn, Trump isn’t even in office yet https://t.co/vkyP3etjx2
— Hoach Celfrich (@RealMessiah29) December 2, 2016
@LawyerRogelio didn’t take long for blood on his hands. #trump caused #McKnight death with hatred &, predigest in this country.
— Holly GennaroM (@Debbie1228Hart1) December 2, 2016
The Trump effect : Former blk unarmed NFL player Joe McKnight shot near New Orleans buy a white man over road rage. assailant was released
— Richard Harris (@richardharris69) December 2, 2016
So does the Trump Effect bounce the killing of black lives into a new stratosphere of brazen execution and cursing the dead? #JoeMcKnight
— Lauren (@CrassLauren) December 2, 2016
Reporter Ramon Antonio Vargas reported via Twitter on a press conference local police held Friday afternoon.
Sheriff Newell Normand: 'a rush to judgment does not equal anything.' Rushing has 'dire consequences.'
— Ramon Antonio Vargas (@RVargasAdvocate) December 2, 2016
Normand: 'Any story you hear' outside of sheriff, coroner and DA should not be believed, 'simply put.'
— Ramon Antonio Vargas (@RVargasAdvocate) December 2, 2016
Normand: the man that raised Joe McKnight used to be a deputy for the JPSO. There's a connection. 'This will be done in the appropriate way'
— Ramon Antonio Vargas (@RVargasAdvocate) December 2, 2016
Normand: nothing from any witness suggests 'a possible hate crime.' Still researching whether Gasser had a CCP.
— Ramon Antonio Vargas (@RVargasAdvocate) December 2, 2016
Asked about a widely circulated rumor, Normand says nothing indicates Gasser has a background in law enforcement.
— Ramon Antonio Vargas (@RVargasAdvocate) December 2, 2016
Normand: 'There is no video that we have been able to recover.' No witness account that McKnight was apologizing 2 Gasser when he was killed
— Ramon Antonio Vargas (@RVargasAdvocate) December 2, 2016
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