Sheriff defends release of suspect in Joe McKnight shooting

The suspect in the shooting death of former USC and New York Jets running back Joe McKnight was released by the Jefferson Parish (La.) Sheriff's department on Friday.

McKnight, 28, was the apparent victim of a road-rage incident just outside of New Orleans, according to Jefferson Parish Sheriff Newell Normand.

A suspect, 54-year-old Ronald Gasser, never left the scene and was placed in custody immediately before being released overnight.

"Mr. Gasser did in fact shoot Mr. McKnight," Normand told reporters on Thursday. "We will be releasing additional details as we get through these interviews with these witnesses. Mr. McKnight did not have a gun in his possession."

Protesters gathered outside the sheriff's office on Friday, and Normand defended his handling of the case.

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

McKnight was born in River Ridge -- just outside of New Orleans -- and was a high school star at local powerhouse John Curtis Christian before going to USC. He was drafted in the fourth round by the Jets and spent three seasons in New York, piling up 505 rushing yards and averaging 28.7 yards on kickoff returns.

McKnight was released in training camp in 2013 and played two games with the Kansas City Chiefs in 2014. He played for the Edmonton Eskimos and the Saskatchewan Roughriders in the CFL last season.