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U.S. NEWS Saturday 3 december 2016

Sheriff: McKnight shooting was ‘road rage’; defends case

REBECCA SANTANA him Danno.’ Right?” Nor-
Associated Press mand said, referring to the
HARVEY, La. (AP) — The police saying made popu-
shooting death of an ex- lar on Hawaii Five-0. But
NFL player in a New Or- Normand urged caution.
leans suburb was a “road “Mr. Gasser is not going
rage” incident that began anywhere. He has been
on a nearby bridge, a sher- completely cooperative
iff said Friday, as he urged with us in every request we
against a rush to judgment have made,” he said. “We
and defended his handling will do a very through and
of the case. deliberate investigation.”
Joe McKnight was shot Normand didn’t go into de-
Thursday afternoon in Ter- tails from the investigation,
rytown, across the Missis- saying he didn’t want to
sippi River from New Or- taint any prospective wit-
leans. Authorities identi- nesses that might still come
fied 54-year-old Ronald forward. But he did reject
Gasser, who stayed at the a number of accounts in
scene, as the shooter and local media speculating
released him overnight, about the shooting. In par-
sparking criticism. ticular, Normand said there
At a news conference Fri- was no video of the inci-
day, Jefferson Parish Sher- dent and that Gasser did
iff Newell Normand said not stand over McKnight
the altercation that end- and fire shots into him.
ed with McKnight’s death Coroner Gerry Cvitanov- Jefferson Parish Sheriff Newell Normand consoles a woman at the scene of former NFL player Joe
started on a nearby bridge ich backed that up, say- McKnight’s homicide as the Jefferson Parish Sheriff’s Office investigates in Terrytown, La., Thursday,
— possibly when one of ing Knight’s three wounds Dec. 1, 2016.
the two men cut the other were not consistent with (Michael DeMocker /NOLA.com The Times-Picayune via AP)
off — and then proceed- being shot from above.
ed into streets of the New McKnight’s grandmother
Orleans suburb. He didn’t said family members are Barbara Franklin told The leased now, but God is go- area in an apparent road
Associated Press relatives ing to bring about justice in rage incident. Former New
say which driver cut off the still seeking information
other. about the player’s death are “trying to find out our it.” Orleans Saints player Will
McKnight is the second Smith was killed in a shoot-
own selves” just what hap-
Authorities said Gasser and why Gasser was re-
shot McKnight three times leased. pened. Of Glasser, she said former NFL player this year ing last April sparked by a
by phone, “He might be re-
from inside his car with a to die in the New Orleans traffic altercation.q
semi-automatic handgun
while McKnight was stand- Police:
ing outside. Witnesses re-
in a heated argument, the Slain teen had BB gun in waistband, nothing in hands
ported the two had been

sheriff said.
Normand defended his CHARLESTON, W.Va. (AP) exchanged words. liminary hearing Thursday. footage suggested Pulliam
handling of the case, say- — A black West Virginia Police said Pulliam showed According to Lioi, Means knew the BB gun was a toy.
ing the investigation was teenager had a BB gun in no remorse and told in- had a BB gun in his waist- “That toy gun is going to
ongoing. No charges have his waistband but nothing vestigators, “That’s an- band, though video foot- get you (expletive) killed,”
been filed. Some protesters in his hands when he was other piece of trash off the age showed nothing in his Lioi said Pulliam could be
upset at Gasser’s release fatally shot by a white man, street.” hands when he was killed. heard saying before Means
gathered outside the sher- a police detective has tes- Pulliam, who faces a first- “James Means had nothing was shot.
iff’s office earlier Friday. tified. degree murder charge, in his hands and I observed “No, it’s not,” Means re-
Speaking of Gasser’s re- According to police, said in a jailhouse interview Mr. Pulliam pull out a gun sponded, according to the
lease, the sheriff said the 15-year-old James Means that he shot in self-defense and discharge one round. detective.
state has certain “statutes” was shot in the chest and after he felt threatened. James Means then falls to Pulliam’s attorney, Richard
that provide a defense to in the back Nov. 21 by “He told me that he shot the ground. As he gets up, Holicker, said neither he nor
certain crimes but did not 62-year-old William Pul- him because he was has- William Pulliam fires another his client has seen the foot-
go into further detail. liam after they bumped sling him,” Charleston Po- round,” Lioi said. age, and he argued that
“The easiest thing for me into each other outside a lice Detective Chris Lioi tes- The detective also said that prosecutors should play it in
would have been ‘Book Charleston store and twice tified during Pulliam’s pre- audio captured from the court.q