To donate by check, phone, or other method, see our More Ways to Give page.
Sheriff Newell Normand of Jefferson Parish in Louisiana on Tuesday delivered a obscenity-laced statement to reporters during a news conference related to the killing of Joe McKnight, who was shot and killed by fellow motorist Ronald Gasser last Thursday night in what has been reported as a road-rage incident. Gasser has now been charged with manslaughter. (Image: Screenshot/YouTube)
Responding to community outrage that the Louisiana man who shot and killed former NFL player Joe McKnight in an alleged road-rage incident had initially been set free, Jefferson Parish sheriff Newell Normand went on a explicit, slur-laden tirade during a Tuesday press conference in defense of officials' actions.
After confessing to fatally shooting McKnight, a black man, multiple times on Thursday, 54-year-old Ronald Gasser, who is white, was questioned by the New Orleans Jefferson Paris sheriff's department before being released "sometime overnight" with no charges filed at the time--"a decision that prompted demonstrations and outrage on social media," according to The New Orleans Advocate.
Some of the more offensive expressions of that outrage were read on live TV by Normand during the Tuesday morning press conference, after it was reported that Gasser had been arrested and charged with manslaughter.
His response shocked observers who were taken aback by the language as well as his defensiveness. As many noted, Normand unflinchingly repeated offensive, racist remarks to discuss a case already facing criticisms of racial bias.
Watch the press conference below. (Warning: explicit language)
\u201c#JoeMcKnight Sheriff Normand found the worst social media statements 2 read out loud. He is mad that he had to arrest that white man. ijs\u201d— Ashton P. Woods (@Ashton P. Woods) 1481044156
\u201cI don't know what this Sheriff Newell Normand thought he was doing, but it sure as shit wasn't helping.\u201d— Kara Calavera \ud83c\uddfa\ud83c\uddf8 \ud83c\uddfa\ud83c\udde6 (@Kara Calavera \ud83c\uddfa\ud83c\uddf8 \ud83c\uddfa\ud83c\udde6) 1481044365
\u201cSheriff Newell Normand is more enraged by hate mail than murder? This guy needs to step down. #joemcknight\u201d— Text ACT to 644-33 Dani Rumford (@Text ACT to 644-33 Dani Rumford) 1481043765
\u201cThat Newell Normand press conference would have been hilarious if not so real and dangerous.\u201d— Elizabeth Sutton (@Elizabeth Sutton) 1481044018
Reporting further on the press conference, local outlet KATC noted that Normand laid the blame for the shooting on both the victim as well as the killer.
KATC reports:
One reporter asked if he understood where the fear and anger expressed by the black community comes from, and Normand, a white man, said that most of the murders in his parish are the result of black-on-black crime.
"Statistically, your fear is misdirected," Normand said. "What we had were two adult males engaged in unacceptable behavior who did not understand how to deal with conflict resolution, and this thing went to a point that unfortunately led to incredibly tragic consequences over bad driving behavior and bad spoken words."
Normand said the two men were both driving erratically for some time before they ended up at an intersection in Terrytown. He said McKnight at some time cut off Gasser's vehicle, and that enraged Gasser. [...] When they stopped at the intersection where McKnight died, they continued to scream at each other through their windows, and then McKnight got out of his vehicle, the sheriff said.
As they were yelling at each other through the window, Gasser claims he became afraid, then pulled out his gun and shot McKnight three times, the sheriff said. [...]
There was a gun in McKnight's car - but the gun and the car belonged to his stepfather, and there's no evidence at all that McKnight ever referred to the gun or threatened to use it, the sheriff said.
The incident comes against a backdrop of national outrage over violence and discrimination against people of color, particularly in cases where law enforcement is involved.
Donald Trump’s attacks on democracy, justice, and a free press are escalating — putting everything we stand for at risk. We believe a better world is possible, but we can’t get there without your support. Common Dreams stands apart. We answer only to you — our readers, activists, and changemakers — not to billionaires or corporations. Our independence allows us to cover the vital stories that others won’t, spotlighting movements for peace, equality, and human rights. Right now, our work faces unprecedented challenges. Misinformation is spreading, journalists are under attack, and financial pressures are mounting. As a reader-supported, nonprofit newsroom, your support is crucial to keep this journalism alive. Whatever you can give — $10, $25, or $100 — helps us stay strong and responsive when the world needs us most. Together, we’ll continue to build the independent, courageous journalism our movement relies on. Thank you for being part of this community. |
Responding to community outrage that the Louisiana man who shot and killed former NFL player Joe McKnight in an alleged road-rage incident had initially been set free, Jefferson Parish sheriff Newell Normand went on a explicit, slur-laden tirade during a Tuesday press conference in defense of officials' actions.
After confessing to fatally shooting McKnight, a black man, multiple times on Thursday, 54-year-old Ronald Gasser, who is white, was questioned by the New Orleans Jefferson Paris sheriff's department before being released "sometime overnight" with no charges filed at the time--"a decision that prompted demonstrations and outrage on social media," according to The New Orleans Advocate.
Some of the more offensive expressions of that outrage were read on live TV by Normand during the Tuesday morning press conference, after it was reported that Gasser had been arrested and charged with manslaughter.
His response shocked observers who were taken aback by the language as well as his defensiveness. As many noted, Normand unflinchingly repeated offensive, racist remarks to discuss a case already facing criticisms of racial bias.
Watch the press conference below. (Warning: explicit language)
\u201c#JoeMcKnight Sheriff Normand found the worst social media statements 2 read out loud. He is mad that he had to arrest that white man. ijs\u201d— Ashton P. Woods (@Ashton P. Woods) 1481044156
\u201cI don't know what this Sheriff Newell Normand thought he was doing, but it sure as shit wasn't helping.\u201d— Kara Calavera \ud83c\uddfa\ud83c\uddf8 \ud83c\uddfa\ud83c\udde6 (@Kara Calavera \ud83c\uddfa\ud83c\uddf8 \ud83c\uddfa\ud83c\udde6) 1481044365
\u201cSheriff Newell Normand is more enraged by hate mail than murder? This guy needs to step down. #joemcknight\u201d— Text ACT to 644-33 Dani Rumford (@Text ACT to 644-33 Dani Rumford) 1481043765
\u201cThat Newell Normand press conference would have been hilarious if not so real and dangerous.\u201d— Elizabeth Sutton (@Elizabeth Sutton) 1481044018
Reporting further on the press conference, local outlet KATC noted that Normand laid the blame for the shooting on both the victim as well as the killer.
KATC reports:
One reporter asked if he understood where the fear and anger expressed by the black community comes from, and Normand, a white man, said that most of the murders in his parish are the result of black-on-black crime.
"Statistically, your fear is misdirected," Normand said. "What we had were two adult males engaged in unacceptable behavior who did not understand how to deal with conflict resolution, and this thing went to a point that unfortunately led to incredibly tragic consequences over bad driving behavior and bad spoken words."
Normand said the two men were both driving erratically for some time before they ended up at an intersection in Terrytown. He said McKnight at some time cut off Gasser's vehicle, and that enraged Gasser. [...] When they stopped at the intersection where McKnight died, they continued to scream at each other through their windows, and then McKnight got out of his vehicle, the sheriff said.
As they were yelling at each other through the window, Gasser claims he became afraid, then pulled out his gun and shot McKnight three times, the sheriff said. [...]
There was a gun in McKnight's car - but the gun and the car belonged to his stepfather, and there's no evidence at all that McKnight ever referred to the gun or threatened to use it, the sheriff said.
The incident comes against a backdrop of national outrage over violence and discrimination against people of color, particularly in cases where law enforcement is involved.
Responding to community outrage that the Louisiana man who shot and killed former NFL player Joe McKnight in an alleged road-rage incident had initially been set free, Jefferson Parish sheriff Newell Normand went on a explicit, slur-laden tirade during a Tuesday press conference in defense of officials' actions.
After confessing to fatally shooting McKnight, a black man, multiple times on Thursday, 54-year-old Ronald Gasser, who is white, was questioned by the New Orleans Jefferson Paris sheriff's department before being released "sometime overnight" with no charges filed at the time--"a decision that prompted demonstrations and outrage on social media," according to The New Orleans Advocate.
Some of the more offensive expressions of that outrage were read on live TV by Normand during the Tuesday morning press conference, after it was reported that Gasser had been arrested and charged with manslaughter.
His response shocked observers who were taken aback by the language as well as his defensiveness. As many noted, Normand unflinchingly repeated offensive, racist remarks to discuss a case already facing criticisms of racial bias.
Watch the press conference below. (Warning: explicit language)
\u201c#JoeMcKnight Sheriff Normand found the worst social media statements 2 read out loud. He is mad that he had to arrest that white man. ijs\u201d— Ashton P. Woods (@Ashton P. Woods) 1481044156
\u201cI don't know what this Sheriff Newell Normand thought he was doing, but it sure as shit wasn't helping.\u201d— Kara Calavera \ud83c\uddfa\ud83c\uddf8 \ud83c\uddfa\ud83c\udde6 (@Kara Calavera \ud83c\uddfa\ud83c\uddf8 \ud83c\uddfa\ud83c\udde6) 1481044365
\u201cSheriff Newell Normand is more enraged by hate mail than murder? This guy needs to step down. #joemcknight\u201d— Text ACT to 644-33 Dani Rumford (@Text ACT to 644-33 Dani Rumford) 1481043765
\u201cThat Newell Normand press conference would have been hilarious if not so real and dangerous.\u201d— Elizabeth Sutton (@Elizabeth Sutton) 1481044018
Reporting further on the press conference, local outlet KATC noted that Normand laid the blame for the shooting on both the victim as well as the killer.
KATC reports:
One reporter asked if he understood where the fear and anger expressed by the black community comes from, and Normand, a white man, said that most of the murders in his parish are the result of black-on-black crime.
"Statistically, your fear is misdirected," Normand said. "What we had were two adult males engaged in unacceptable behavior who did not understand how to deal with conflict resolution, and this thing went to a point that unfortunately led to incredibly tragic consequences over bad driving behavior and bad spoken words."
Normand said the two men were both driving erratically for some time before they ended up at an intersection in Terrytown. He said McKnight at some time cut off Gasser's vehicle, and that enraged Gasser. [...] When they stopped at the intersection where McKnight died, they continued to scream at each other through their windows, and then McKnight got out of his vehicle, the sheriff said.
As they were yelling at each other through the window, Gasser claims he became afraid, then pulled out his gun and shot McKnight three times, the sheriff said. [...]
There was a gun in McKnight's car - but the gun and the car belonged to his stepfather, and there's no evidence at all that McKnight ever referred to the gun or threatened to use it, the sheriff said.
The incident comes against a backdrop of national outrage over violence and discrimination against people of color, particularly in cases where law enforcement is involved.
