SHOOT SHOCK
McKnight killer ‘nice guy’ – pals
RELATIVES OF the man who fatally shot former Jets player Joe McKnight described the shooter on Saturday as cool, level-headed and unlikely to commit violence — as protests continued over the lack of an arrest.
Ronald Gasser, 54, shot McKnight, 28, three times from inside his car in a New Orleans suburb Thursday afternoon as the former running back stood outside, cops said.
Cops declined to arrest Gasser, who gave them his gun when they got on scene in Terrytown and told them what happened.
Witnesses reported hearing rapid gun fire after the two men got into a heated argument.
The altercation started as a road rage incident on a nearby bridge, authorities said. But Gasser’s ex-wife, Wanda Bua, said that didn’t sound like the “cleancut” man she knew 10 years ago.
“I never noticed any violence or road rage. None of this is in his character. I can’t imagine him doing this,” she said, near the modest Metairie, La. home she shares with their daughter.
“He was always cool and level-headed,” she said, noting he rarely drank and never took drugs.
Neighbors around Gasser’s one-story brick home in Jefferson Parish also described him as kind but aloof.
Regina Sam, who lives next door, said he came to cut her grass for her after she suffered a stroke earlier this year.
“He’s a nice guy. He’s always looking out for me,” she said.
He was a “private man,” but also remembered to ask her about her military son, stationed overseas in Kuwait, she said.
Candles, teddy bears and balloons marked the spot at the busy intersection where Gasser killed McKnight. It was the same site of a road rage clash between Gasser and another man 10 years ago, police said. Gasser punched the man but was not charged with a crime.
About a dozen protestors gathered at the spot Saturday to demand police arrest Gasser.
Barbara Franklin said she is horrified her grandson’s killer is free.
“...God is going to bring me justice. That’s all I can say, because justice has got to be done,” she said, sobbing.
Buffalo Bills running back Reggie Bush will honor McKnight during Sunday’s game against the Raiders in Oakland by wearing cleats with his fallen friend’s picture and dates of birth and death.
Bush tweeted a picture of the tribute footwear, but the year of McKnight's birth was wrong (1983 instead of 1988). Bush vowed to fix the mistake.