The man who fatally shot former NFL running back Joe McKnight has been sentenced to 30 years in prison.
BREAKING: Man convicted of manslaughter in Joe McKnight case sentenced to 30 years https://t.co/MbRnsGmtQl pic.twitter.com/7obu4Ghldo
— WAFB (@WAFB) March 15, 2018
Ronald Gasser is 56 years old and was found guilty of manslaughter for shooting Joe McKnight after they got into an altercation at a traffic stop in Louisiana in 2016. Gasser shot McKnight through his window three times, killing the 28 year old former NFL pro instantly. A jury found Gasser guilty of manslaughter in January of this year.
According to TMZ, both McKnight’s mother and the father of his 8 year old son made powerful victim impact statements during the trial.
“That day, you didn’t have to do that. That didn’t have to happen. It hurts. It’s going to hurt a long time,” his mother said.
The mother of his son Jaiden said, “It will be my life’s mission to make sure my son, Jaiden, doesn’t grow up with hate for you. Not because you don’t deserve it, but because he should not have hate in his heart.”
McKnight was originally slotted to do 40 years in prison but had his sentence shortened after much deliberation in the courtroom. His lawyers are planning to appeal the 30 year sentence shortly after it begins.
McKnight retired from the NFL in 2014 after he tore his achilles. He later played in the Canadian Football League for the Saskatchewan Roughriders and was still under contract at the time of his death.
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