Former NFL player Joe McKnight was shot dead in an apparent road rage incident in a suburb of New Orleans on Thursday.
In a statement, Jefferson Parish Sheriff’s Office said that McKnight was pronounced dead at the scene having suffered “multiple gunshot wounds” following an argument with a 54-year old man at an intersection on Thursday afternoon.
‘Sheriff Newell Normand reports, this afternoon, around 2:43 PM, our 911 Center received a call of a subject shot near the intersection of Holmes Boulevard and Behrman Highway in Terrytown,’ the statement read.
‘Responding offices located the victim, identified Joe McKnight, B/M, 28, suffering from multiple gunshot wounds. Our officers began CPR as they awaited the arrival of EMS. Soon thereafter, Mr. McKnight was pronounced dead on the scene.
‘The suspect in this investigation, identified as Ronald Gasser, W/M, 54, remained on the scene and was taken into custody. Gasser is currently being questioned by our Homicide detectives at this time. This matter is being investigated as a possible road rage incident.’
McKnight was drafted by the New York Jets in 2010 and stayed there until his release in the summer of 2013. He joined the Kansas City Chiefs in 2014 but suffered injury problems and never really made an impact.
More recently, he played for the Edmonton Eskimos and the Saskatchewan Roughriders in the Canadian Football League (CFL), making his first start in the division under two months ago.
McKnight’s former teams, friends and colleagues have been paying their tributes on social media.
Rest in peace, Joe McKnight.
Our thoughts and condolences are with his loved ones. pic.twitter.com/vtEihPomt9
— New York Jets (@nyjets) December 1, 2016
Our thoughts and prayers are with Joe McKnight and his family.
This is a heartbreaking loss.
— Kansas City Chiefs (@Chiefs) December 1, 2016
Just got a message saying my former teammate Joe McKnight was killed today. This hurt to the heart. I can't stop crying. #RestInPeace
— COACH ANTONIO CROMARTIE (@CRO31) December 1, 2016
Rest In Peace to my bro Joe McKnight…this is unbelievable. Fly with the angels bro and rest in paradise. Heaven gained a real one today.
— Billy (@snacks) December 1, 2016
