Joe McKnight, a Saskatchewan Roughrider running back as well as a former NFL player, was shot to death in an apparent road rage incident in Terrytown, Louisiana, on Thursday afternoon.
Police said the shooting took place at an intersection around 2:45 p.m. ET, after an argument.
The Jefferson Parish Sheriff’s department confirmed to Global News that one person was in custody and being questioned in relation to the incident Thursday evening. Jefferson Parish Sheriff Newell Normand said that McKnight was standing outside his car when he was shot by 54-year-old Ronald Gasser.
Gasser stayed at the scene and relinquished his weapon to responding officers.
Police say officers attempted to revive McKnight with CPR, but he was pronounced dead at the scene.
Authorities say Gasser was released from custody overnight.
Col. John Fortunato is a spokesman for the Jefferson Parish Sheriff’s Office. He tells news media outlets Gasser hasn’t been charged yet and the shooting is still under investigation.
The 28-year-old, who was born in Louisiana, is the second CFL player to die in a shooting this year. Calgary Stampeder Mylan Hicks was killed in September during a shooting at a Calgary bar.
READ MORE: Mylan Hicks’ mother visits Stampeders, sits behind bench at Grey Cup
McKnight was signed by the Roughriders in 2016 after starting the season with the Edmonton Eskimos. Prior to playing in the CFL, McKnight was drafted by the New York Jets in 2010 out of the University of Southern California and also played for the Kansas City Chiefs.
McKnight is the second former NFL player this year to die in the New Orleans area as a result of a possible road-rage incident. Former New Orleans Saints player Will Smith was killed in April in a shooting that was sparked by a traffic altercation.
Terrytown is a suburb of New Orleans.
WATCH: Sheriff Newell Normand with the Jefferson Parish Sheriff’s Office discusses the shooting of Joe McKnight
Riders president and CEO Craig Reynolds said he was saddened to hear of the loss.
“Losing a member of our Rider family this way is an unthinkable occurrence. Our thoughts and prayers are with Joe’s family, teammates and coaches,” he said in a statement.
“On behalf of our Board of Governors and the entire CFL family, I’d like to convey my deepest sympathies to all those close to Joe McKnight, especially his loved ones and friends. Our thoughts and prayers are also with the Saskatchewan Roughriders’ organization at this difficult time.” Jeffrey L. Orridge, CFL commissioner, said in a statement.
Reggie Bush, a running back for the Buffalo Bills and former teammate played with McKnight at the University of Southern California and tweeted, “RIP my brother Joe McKnight this one hurts bad.”
Other former teammates, friends and associates took to social media top express their shock and grief.
*With files from Peder Myhr, David Baxter and the Associated Press
*a previous version of this story said McKnight was drafted out of South Carolina. He was in fact drafted out of Southern California.
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