White man who shot and killed Joe McKnight was involved in road rage incident at same location a decade ago

The man accused of shooting and killing former NFL star Joe McKnight in a road rage incident was involved in a similar altercation at the same location over a decade ago, reports NOLA.

54-year-old Ronald Gasser,was taken into custody and then released by police authorities on Thursday after getting into an argument with McKnight and then shooting him.

According to witnesses, Gasser, who is white, pulled McKnight, who is black, from his car and argued with him before shooting him more than once as he stood over him.

“I told you not to f*ck with me,” Gasser reportedly said, before firing once more at McKnight as he lay on the ground.

According to the police, this was not Gasser's first assault at that intersection.

In 2006, Gasser was issued a misdemeanor summons for simple battery after a man said Gasser attacked him and beat him with his fists. The charge was ultimately dismissed, however is now under review by the Jefferson Parish Sheriff's Office.

The victim in that case was identified as a 51-year-old man from Marrero who called 911 to report a man driving dangerously in a pick-up truck.

Noticing a phone number listed on the truck to report unsafe driving, the man called it, only to have Gasser answer and argue with him.

"A verbal altercation began between the victim and Gasser," the JPSO report states.

When the victim stopped at a gas station, Gasser followed him and assaulted him before driving off, only to be taken into custody later and charged with battery which was later dropped.

Authorities have defended releasing Gasser after killing McKnight, suggesting that the shooting of the former NFL great and local high school star might be justified under Louisiana's "Stand Your Ground" laws.