One wonders why Louisiana Jefferson Parish Sheriff Newell Normand did not arrest Ronald Gasser immediately after he murdered Joe McKnight. It is evident from his angry and defensive press conference that pressure caused him to charge this killer.
Louisiana Jefferson Parish Sheriff Press Conference on murder of Joe McKnight
Louisiana Jefferson Parish Sheriff Newell Normand in a rather angry news conference attacked Americans for their reaction to the murder instead of his behavior. It is true that some witnesses intentionally lied. That is wrong. But it is his job to get to the truth. But he fails to understand the anger within communities of color who continuously endure the killing of their men and women by citizens and police that whose perpetrators simply get off. His refusal to arrest Ronald Gasser after he killed a black man, Gasser, a man previously involved in a road rage altercation, justifiably raised the angst of the community that justice once again would be denied.
The NOLA Times-Picayune reported the following,
Ronald Gasser, the man authorities say shot former NFL player Joe McKnight during a road rage incident, was arrested Monday (Dec. 5) on a manslaughter charge, according to the jail records from Jefferson Parish Sheriff’s Office. The move comes after Gasser originally was released after the shooting.
Authorities say Gasser fatally shot McKnight, 27, from inside his vehicle during a road rage incident Thursday (Dec. 1) at the intersection of Behrman Highway and Holmes Boulevard in Terrytown (map). Gasser was released hours later by the Jefferson Parish Sheriff’s Office without charges, as Normand said his office was still working to investigate what happened.