Former NFL Running Back Joe McKnight Killed in Apparent Road Rage Incident
Former NFL running back Joe McKnight died in Louisiana on Thursday after an apparent road rage altercation. He was 28.
Authorities confirmed to NFL.com that McKnight, who played for the New York Jets and the Kansas City Chiefs, was declared dead at the scene after being shot and killed near an intersection in Terrytown, Louisiana.
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According to the website, deputies found McKnight lying on the ground next to his car when they responded to a 911 call at around 2:43 p.m. local time. Police reportedly performed CPR on the former athlete, who was suffering from a gunshot wound, but were not able to revive him.
Also at the scene was 54-year-old Ronald Gasser who told deputies he shot McKnight. NFL.com reports that Gasser was taken to the sheriff's office along with several other witnesses, but was not arrested.
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The investigation is reportedly ongoing, and further details are expected to be released on Friday during a press conference. An autopsy has been scheduled for the same day.
Fellow athletes took to Twitter to offer their condolences.
"Everybody in the world wanted to be @ReggieBush," Arizona Cardinals safety Tyrann Mathieu recalled. "Us in New Orleans wanted to run the ball like Joe McKnight."
"RIP my brother Joe McKnight," Bush wrote. "This one hurts bad."
Born in Louisiana, McKnight played for John Curtis Christian High School in River Ridge, Louisiana, but his high school career was complicated after the devastation brought on by Hurricane Katrina. Despite losing his home in the aftermath of the storm, McKnight played well enough to be awarded a scholarship to USC where he was dubbed the "next Reggie Bush."
Following college, McKnight was drafted by the Jets in the 2010 NFL Draft. He was released by the Jets in 2013 and later signed with the Chiefs the following year. After tearing his Achilles tendon during practice in 2014, McKnight was ruled out for the rest of the season and most recently joined the Canadian Football League.