NEW ORLEANS – Funeral arrangements have been scheduled for CFL player Joe McKnight, who was fatally shot last week during a road rage dispute in suburban New Orleans.
Visitation will be held at New Home Ministries in New Orleans at 9 a.m. Monday. Funeral services will follow at 11 a.m.
McKnight, who finished the season with the Saskatchewan Roughriders, was the second CFL player to be shot to death this year. Stampeders defensive back Mylan Hicks was killed outside a Calgary nightclub in September.
McKnight, who was 28, was signed to Saskatchewan’s practice roster on Sept. 26, and he ran for 150 yards in his first CFL start on Oct. 15 as the Roughriders beat Toronto 29-11. He finished the 2016 season with 228 rushing yards and 80 receiving yards over five games with Edmonton and Saskatchewan.
He played three seasons for the New York Jets and one with the Kansas City Chiefs before moving to the CFL. McKnight will be buried at Restlawn Cemetary in Avondale.
Ronald Gasser, the 54-year-old man accused of shooting McKnight, has been arrested on a manslaughter charge. Bond was set at US$500,000 but his attorney has asked a judge to reduce it. A hearing on the request is set for Dec. 21.
