What to Know
- Ronald Gasser was released without charges Friday morning after the road rage shooting death of Joe McKnight
- McKnight was found dead outside his car in the New Orleans suburb of Terrytown on Thursday afternoon.
- McKnight was a standout running back under Pete Carroll at the University of Southern California and was drafted by the Jets in 2010
The Jets have held a moment of silence before their game against the Indianapolis Colts at MetLife Stadium to honor former running back Joe McKnight, killed last Thursday in Louisiana.
Authorities said McKnight, 28, was shot during a road rage incident that was possibly sparked by a driver cutting off another on a nearby bridge in Terrytown, across the Mississippi River from New Orleans. The shooter was identified by police as Ronald Gasser, 54, and he was released overnight, drawing criticism.
McKnight was rated the nation's No. 1 running back recruit when he came out of Louisiana in 2006 and signed with the University of Southern California. He was a fourth-round draft pick of the Jets in 2010 and played three seasons for New York. He spent a season with Kansas City, and most recently played for the Saskatchewan Roughriders of the Canadian Football League.
McKnight had a 107-yard kickoff return for a touchdown in 2011, and it remains the longest play in Jets history.
In a mostly somber Jets locker room last Friday, former teammates remembered McKnight. Only a handful of players remain from those New York teams, but the impact McKnight left was clear.
"In my rookie year, he was like the first guy who actually talked to me here," said quarterback Geno Smith, who was drafted in 2013. "Joe was cool, man. He was funny. Just a real laid-back guy, always kept you laughing and always a smile on his face."
A few veteran players declined to comment in the locker room because they were so upset by the news, but later issued statements through the team.
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"My memories from him are working hard," cornerback Darrelle Revis said. "He came in his rookie year and it was a little rocky for him trying to learn the system. And then his second year, he took off as an explosive kick returner and he won us numerous games."
The Jets organization tweeted: "Rest in peace, Joe McKnight. Our thoughts and condolences are with his loved ones."
Former Jets teammates were also tweeting about McKnight, expressing shock and grief.
"This hurt to my heart. I can't stop crying," said Antonio Cromartie.
"Just senseless violence... great teammate and sense of humor," Damien Woody said.
