Suspect in Joe McKnight's fatal shooting released from custody

JEFFERSON PARISH, La. (KABC) -- The man who shot former USC football star Joe McKnight in Louisiana was released from custody and no charges had been filed, according to the Jefferson Parish Sheriff's Department.

Col. John Fortunato of the sheriff's department confirmed to Eyewitness News that 54-year-old Ronald Gasser was released overnight.

At a press conference Friday afternoon, Sheriff Newell Normand said the case appeared to be a road rage incident and stated Gasser admitted to shooting McKnight at an intersection in the New Orleans suburb of Terrytown on Thursday.

Despite rumblings, Normand said Gasser did not stand over McKnight and shoot him.

"That did not happen," Normand stated.

Dr. Gerry Cvitanovich with the Jefferson Parish Coroner's Office said McKnight suffered from three gunshots: one to his left hand, one to his chest, and one to his right shoulder which entered into his right lung.

"Wounds are not consistent with being shot from above," Cvitanovich said on Friday.

Normand stated that McKnight was standing outside his car when he was shot. He also said there was no evidence of McKnight trying to apologize to Gasser or any witness testimony to indicate the shooting was a hate crime.

"We have no witness account of an apology being made by Mr. McKnight to Mr. Gasser," Normand said. "We are interviewing a number of witnesses as well as Mr. Gasser."

Normand added that Gasser was fully cooperating with investigators and had "relinquished his weapon to our officers."

After starring for the Trojans, McKnight was drafted by the New York Jets in 2010. He went on to play for the Jets and Kansas City Chiefs until 2014.

According to Normand, the man who raised McKnight used to be a deputy in his department.