The alleged shooter of former USC and NFL running back Joe McKnight has now been formally charged, according to the The Orleans Advocate.
It didn’t happen right away, as police gathered all the information before making formal charges. According to The Advocate, those wishes are going to be granted now though, as Gasser was jailed on Tuesday morning on one charge of manslaughter.
The 28-year-old McKnight and Gasser allegedly got in to an argument described as “road-rage” that ended tragically, as Gasser pulled a gun and shot McKnight multiple times according to reports.
Gasser was initially arrested, but released pending further investigation on Friday. That sparked national Twitter outrage and protests in the area of the shooting.
Just a few days later, with all the information in front of the police and the district attorney’s office, charges are being filed after all.
Why manslaughter and not murder? Here is a great explanation, via The Advocate of the statute Gasser is being charged under:
One of the definitions of manslaughter in Louisiana is a killing committed in “sudden passion or heat of blood immediately caused by provocation sufficient to deprive an average person of his self-control and cool reflection.” Another definition of manslaughter is an unintentional killing committed during the course of another felony or misdemeanor, excluding crimes such as kidnapping, rape, robbery or escaping from custody, among others.
Justice appears to be on its way to being served in this case, one that highlights the sad reality that life seems to be a cheap thing to society today.
Gasser’s manslaughter charge carries a maximum of 40 years in prison should he be convicted.
