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A6 U.S. NEWS
Saturday 4 February 2017

Lawyers: Man shot former NFL running back in self-defense

J. McCONNAUGHEY have forensics evidence, the law,” they wrote. “He
Associated Press they believe McKnight’s waited for the police and
GRETNA, La. (AP) — The wounds, and shell cas- cooperated fully with the
man accused of fatally ings found in Gasser’s car, investigation.”
shooting former NFL player will be consistent with the A second-degree murder
Joe McKnight acted in self- sources’ account. charge can be brought
defense because McK- “Mr. Gasser did what he is against someone who
night was threatening him legally entitled to do and means “to kill or to inflict
and trying to climb into his defended himself. ... Mr. great bodily harm.”
car, his lawyers say. Gasser did not know Mr. Asked Thursday whether
Ronald Gasser, 55, of Terry- McKnight nor was this in McKnight had reached
town, had initially been ar- any way racially motivat- into Gasser’s car, Jefferson
rested on a manslaughter ed. He feared for his safe- Parish Sheriff Newell Nor-
charge but was indicted ty and acted,” said the mand said, “I’m not here
Wednesday on a charge email, sent by Goetz and to compromise our case
of second-degree murder, signed by both lawyers. and I’m not here to argue
which carries a mandatory Authorities have said both our case.
life sentence if he’s con- the 28-year-old McKnight, The district attorney ...
victed. He’s being held on who was black, and Gas- alone will decide when he
$750,000 bond. ser, who is white, were wants to reveal certain as-
“Information provided driving erratically and yell- pects of this case.”
from our sources indicates ing at each other on the Gasser was released af-
that McKnight exited his bridge from the main part ter initial questioning, but
vehicle and attempted to of New Orleans to its west was re-arrested Dec. 6 and
enter through the passen- bank neighborhood be- jailed on a charge of man-
ger window of Mr. Gasser’s fore they stopped. slaughter.
vehicle while threaten- “It is our understanding The sheriff was criticized for
ing him with serious bodily (which can be verified by not keeping Gasser in jail
harm,” attorneys Matthew a simple viewing of the from the start, even though
Goetz and Gerard Archer photos of the scene follow- Gasser was immediately
said in an email sent after- ing the incident) that Mr. identified as the shooter.
hours Thursday to The Asso- McKnight drove his vehicle Normand said at the time
ciated Press. from several car lengths that a thorough investiga-
“Mr. Gasser gave several behind Mr. Gasser and tion was needed because
statements to the police then pulled over onto the of laws that provide a de-
explaining that,” Goetz shoulder of the road trap- fense to certain crimes. He
said Friday. This booking photo shows Ronald Gasser, accused of killing for- ping Mr. Gasser’s vehicle,” did not elaborate.
He would not elaborate on mer NFL running back Joe McKnight during a road rage dispute. the attorneys’ email said. McKnight was considered
other sources during a brief ( Jefferson Parish Sheriff’s Office via AP) After the shooting, Gasser the No. 1 running back re-
interview Friday. “We’ve doing his own investiga- The email added that while “did what is expected of cruit in the country when
hired an investigator who’s tion,” he said. the attorneys don’t yet people who are following he came out of John Curtis
Christian School in Louisi-
ana in 2006.
Police: He signed with the Univer-

Toddler escaped crib, wandered into neighbor’s home sity of Southern California,
where he ran for 2,213
yards and 13 touchdowns
MANCHESTER, N.H. (AP) — ficers were called to the sleeper, checked out at a The girl’s mother, Geraldine and caught 66 passes for
Police believe a 2-year-old home at about 3:30 a.m. hospital. Police said they Pena, said her daughter 542 yards and two scores
girl somehow got out of her Friday and searched the planned to gather more was in good condition. The in three seasons.
crib overnight, sneaked out neighborhood, using dogs details on the case. Nashua woman was not In the NFL, he played three
the back door as tempera- and a helicopter. Manchester Police Lt. Brian at the Manchester home seasons for the New York
tures dipped into the teens A neighbor woke up in O’Keefe thanked all the of- when her daughter was re- Jets and one with the Kan-
and got into a neighbor’s her apartment nearby at ficers and firefighters who ported missing. sas City Chiefs.
apartment. about 9:15 a.m. and saw participated in the search. “I want to thank every- He spent the past season
Zoey Rose Guerrero Pena the child inside. The neigh- Police searched the home one from the core of my in the Canadian Foot-
was last seen asleep in bor contacted police im- extensively as well as the soul,” she told WMUR-TV. ball League, playing two
her crib at about 9:30 p.m. mediately. surrounding neighborhood. “People who don’t even games for the Edmon-
Thursday inside her grand- Authorities were having Residents were asked to know us were out in the ton Eskimos and three
mother’s house in Man- the child, who was only refrain from entering the cold trying to help. I want for the Saskatchewan
chester, police said. Of- wearing a pink one-piece search area. to thank them so much.”q Roughriders.q