The man accused of shooting and killing former NFL player Joseph McKnight was indicted on a charge of second-degree murder. Jefferson Parish District Attorney Paul D. Connick Jr. made the announcement after the grand jury's decision on Thursday. Ronald Gasser Jr. was first arrested in December for manslaughter. McKnight was killed on Dec. 1 in an apparent road rage incident with Gasser at a Terrytown intersection. Gasser shot three rounds from a .40-caliber semi-automatic handgun from the driver's seat of his car through the open passenger window, the Jefferson Parish Sheriff's Office said. Detectives determined that McKnight and Gasser were driving erratically on the Crescent City Connection bridge or before they reached it. The Sheriff's Office said one witness told investigators that McKnight possibly cut off Gasser, who became irritated and followed the former NFL player. A representative with the Jefferson Parish public defender's office said in December that Gasser was assigned an attorney and his bond was set at $500,000. Gasser, who was initially taken into custody for questioning, was later released with no charges filed. That changed when Sheriff Newell Normand said the Sheriff's Office needed additional witnesses and statements before Gasser could be arrested. The district attorney's office said that after reviewing additional evidence, investigators were able to make the second-degree murder indictment. Gasser faces life in jail with hard labor and without the possibility of parole, probation or suspension of sentence if he is found guilty. His bond was increased to $750,000 by the the 24th Judicial District Court. Additional details were not released by the district attorney's office. Keep up with local news, weather and current events with the WDSU app here. Sign up for our email newsletters to get breaking news right in your inbox. Click here to sign up!

The man accused of shooting and killing former NFL player Joseph McKnight was indicted on a charge of second-degree murder.

Jefferson Parish District Attorney Paul D. Connick Jr. made the announcement after the grand jury's decision on Thursday.


Ronald Gasser Jr. was first arrested in December for manslaughter. McKnight was killed on Dec. 1 in an apparent road rage incident with Gasser at a Terrytown intersection.

Gasser shot three rounds from a .40-caliber semi-automatic handgun from the driver's seat of his car through the open passenger window, the Jefferson Parish Sheriff's Office said.



Detectives determined that McKnight and Gasser were driving erratically on the Crescent City Connection bridge or before they reached it. The Sheriff's Office said one witness told investigators that McKnight possibly cut off Gasser, who became irritated and followed the former NFL player.

A representative with the Jefferson Parish public defender's office said in December that Gasser was assigned an attorney and his bond was set at $500,000.

Gasser, who was initially taken into custody for questioning, was later released with no charges filed. That changed when Sheriff Newell Normand said the Sheriff's Office needed additional witnesses and statements before Gasser could be arrested.

The district attorney's office said that after reviewing additional evidence, investigators were able to make the second-degree murder indictment.

Gasser faces life in jail with hard labor and without the possibility of parole, probation or suspension of sentence if he is found guilty. His bond was increased to $750,000 by the the 24th Judicial District Court.

Additional details were not released by the district attorney's office.

Keep up with local news, weather and current events with the WDSU app here. Sign up for our email newsletters to get breaking news right in your inbox. Click here to sign up!

