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CFL shooting 'road rage'

The shooting death of a CFL player in a New Orleans suburb was a "road rage" incident that started on a nearby bridge, a sheriff said Friday, as he urged against a rush to judgment and defended his handling of the case.

Saskatchewan Roughriders running back Joe McKnight was shot and killed Thursday afternoon in the community of Terrytown, just across the Mississippi River from New Orleans. Authorities have identified 54-year-old Ronald Gasser, who stayed at the scene, as the shooter and he was released overnight, sparking criticism.

During a news conference Friday, Jefferson Parish Sheriff Newell Normand said the altercation that ended with McKnight's death started on a nearby bridge — possibly when one of the two men cut the other off — and then proceeded into nearby streets in the New Orleans suburb. He did not say which driver cut off the other.

Authorities said Gasser shot McKnight three times from inside his car with a semi-automatic handgun while McKnight was standing outside. Witnesses said the two had been in a heated argument, according to the sheriff.

Normand defended his handling of the case, saying the investigation was ongoing. No charges have been filed. Protesters upset at Gasser's release gathered outside the sheriff's office earlier Friday.

Speaking of Gasser's release, the sheriff said the state has certain "statutes" that provide a defence to certain crimes but did not go into further detail.

"The easiest thing for me would have been 'Book him Danno.' Right?" Normand said, referring to the police saying made popular on Hawaii Five-0. But Normand urged caution.

"Mr. Gasser is not going anywhere. He has been completely co-operative with us in every request we have made," Normand said. "We will do a very through and deliberate investigation."

McKnight is the second CFL player to be shot to death this year. Stampeders defensive back Mylan Hicks was killed outside a Calgary nightclub in September.

McKnight was signed to Saskatchewan's practice roster on Sept. 26, and he ran for 150 yards in his first CFL start on Oct. 15 as the Roughriders beat Toronto 29-11. He finished the 2016 season with 228 rushing yards and 80 receiving yards over five games with Edmonton and Saskatchewan.

McKnight played three seasons for the New York Jets and one with the Kansas City Chiefs before moving to the CFL.



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