The man who shot and killed former NFL running back Joe McKnight last week reportedly has a history with road rage incidents.
According to a police report that was obtained by TMZ, Ronald Gasser was accused of punching and threatening a man in an alleged road rage incident in Feb. 2006. The alleged victim claimed Gasser cut him off on a street in Jefferson Parrish, which is the same place where McKnight was shot.
Gasser had a number on his car to call and report unsafe driving, so the person who filed the report told police he called it. Gasser himself answered and ended up following the person to a nearby gas station, where he allegedly became violent. The accuser says Gasser hit him twice in the head and once in the shoulder with a closed fist before telling him “I will get you” and getting into his car to drive away.
Police responded to the scene, but they did not see any visible injuries and the alleged victim refused medical attention. He did, however, ask about pursuing criminal charges against Gasser.
The incident involving Gasser and McKnight is still under investigation, and many were outraged that Gasser was released from custody without charges. One witness claims to have seen Gasser stand over McKnight and proclaim, “I told you don’t you (expletive) with me” before shooting McKnight while he was on the ground. Police, who provided some alleged details of the shooting on Friday, say that was not the case.
Gasser admitted to killing McKnight and stayed at the scene until police arrived. The state of Louisiana has a “stand your ground” which justifies homicide in the event that a person feels he or she is in serious danger. That law will likely come into play in this case.
