Former star USC Trojan and ex-New York Jets’ running back Joe McKnight was gunned down on Thursday, after a suspected road rage incident in Terrytown, Louisiana.
The incident occurred shortly after 3pm local time, at an intersection in Terrytown just south of the city of New Orleans. According to witnesses, McKnight and his alleged killer, 54-year-old Ronald Gasser, argued over an unspecified incident moments before McKnight suffered multiple gun shot wounds.
According to multiple witnesses, Gasser repeatedly shot the former college football star through the window. McKnight was struck in the chest, right shoulder and left hand. McKnight died on the scene.
His alleged killer, reportedly stood over a fatally wounded McKnight and exclaimed, “I told you don’t you f−−k with me!”
Shortly following the incident, footage appeared online of a paramedic attempting to resuscitate McKnight. Other off-screen witnesses are heard to exclaim, “this could’ve been any one of us.”
“That man just got out and shot that man!” she adds. “That boy dead.”
Gasser was arrested at the scene, but was later released without charges being pressed.
Joe McKnight was a highly touted running back, following in the footsteps of fellow USC running back and Heisman trophy winner, Reggie Bush. He tweeted, “he didn’t deserve to die that way! And then this man stands over him and shoots him again like some kind of wild animal! Sickening.”
McKnight was drafted in the 4th round of the 2010 NFL Draft (112th overall) by the New York Jets. Although a prodigiously talented player with electrifying speed and agility, McKnight never adapted to the pro game, spending three years in Gang Green and a final year with Kansas City in 2014. In four years McKnight accumulated at total of 505 rushing yards, 241 receiving yards and 4 total touchdowns.
Following his death, the New York Jets organization released a statement, “Joe McKnight was a loving father and a genuine, kind-hearted person. It is sad when life is taken in what appears to be such a senseless act of violence. Joe, you will be missed.”