Sheriff Brings Up Trump and Black-on-Black Crime While Defending Joe McKnight Shooting Investigation

In a fiery and bizarre 50-minute news conference Tuesday morning, the Louisiana sheriff investigating the shooting death of former NFL player Joe McKnight held forth at length about the criticism his department has faced; about race relations and “black-on-black” crime; and what he called the shameful behavior of some witnesses and the public.

The remarks — nominally focused on a recent arrest in McKnight’s death — swerved passionately and erratically among many topics. Jefferson Parish Sheriff Newell Normand appeared visibly angry as he defended authorities from criticism. At one point he described the actions of both the suspect and victim as “bad behavior.”

The sheriff also scolded members of the public. “Shame on you,” he said repeatedly, his voice rising.

Normand’s caustic response to the complaints triggered its own reaction: As writer Jamil Smith tweeted, Normand “was much more upset today about criticism of cops than about Joe McKnight being dead.”

The McKnight family previously told PEOPLE he was a “family man,” and they said they have turned to their faith after the killing.

“We’re holding on by the grace of God, we’re holding on,” said Barbara Franklin, McKnight’s grandmother. “God’s going to bring justice, and we’re going to continue to pray on one accord, justice.”

The family could not immediately be reached after Gasser’s arrest or Normand’s news conference.

Explaining the Arrest and Defending His Department

Normand began his news conference by telling reporters that Gasser had been charged with manslaughter and was in jail.

He said that the “totality of statement didn’t add up,” and that witnesses have come forward to dispute Gasser’s account of what happened at the scene of the fatal shooting.

Then Normand defended his decision to free Gasser the night of the shooting.

“The Stand Your Ground law gives us an obligation to get it right,” he said. “For those who have criticized us: Tough, I don’t care. I can put my head on my pillow at night knowing I did the right thing.”

After speaking about the abuse that he claimed lawmakers and community leaders have endured, Normand read an expletive-laced tirade that appeared to be social media posts critical of his handling of the case. In addition to profanity, the tirade included racial and homophobic slurs.

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“It’s not fair,” Normand said. “That’s the tone of what we are calling our elected leaders for simply standing up and simply saying, ‘Let justice prevail, and let the process take its course.’ ”

“This isn’t about race,” he said. “Not a single witness to this day said there was one racial slur uttered during the course of these events. Unfortunately, a life was lost. But you want you know something, folks? Two people engaged in bad behavior that day. Why? I don’t know.”

Normand also took aim at a witness who he said was “lying” about the shooting. According to Normand, a witness came forward immediately after the incident, claiming that Gasser had invoked the name of President-elect Donald Trump during the shooting.

“Some people wanted that story to be true,” Normand said, slamming his hand on his podium.

“Shame on these folks,” he said. “Shame. We’re constantly talking and asking all of us to reach across the aisle, to embrace one another amongst the races, and when we do so, when we collectively stand together, this is what we call one another.”

A few minutes later, Normand began speaking about black-on-black crime. “Over 80 percent of the shootings are committed by the same folk,” he said. “Your fear is not here if you look at the data. Your fear is somewhere else.”

What Normand didn’t say: Federal statistics show the majority of crimes are committed among members of the same racial or ethnic group — a white person is more likely to shoot a white person than a black person, for example.

Recreating the Crime

Responding to a reporter’s question well into his remarks, Normand explained at the news conference what investigators believe happened during Thursday’s altercation.

According to Normand, there was an incident at some point between the occupants of both cars. He said that the two men began angrily chasing after each other, darting around other vehicles.

Normand said that Gasser came to a stop and McKnight pulled up, and the two men sat in their respective vehicles and yelled at each other out of their windows.

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At some point, Normand said, McKnight exited his car and came to Gasser’s window. During the argument, Gasser grabbed his gun from the center console area, Normand said.

Gasser fired three shots, striking and killing McKnight, he said. “Two people engaged in bad behavior that day.”

The Investigation Moves Forward

Normand told reporters that investigators are still speaking to witnesses and have requested surveillance videos from local businesses. He also said that they have nearly 12 hours of interviews with Gasser — 10 hours when he was not under arrest and two additional hours of “custodial” interview.

He insisted that the methodical pace of the investigation was a “strategic” move that would result in a fair verdict.

“Justice has no time period,” he said. “It is not a sprint, but a marathon.”

Gasser remains in custody in Jefferson Parish on one count of manslaughter, on $500,000 bond, according to jail records. He is scheduled to next appear in court on Dec. 21, where he will enter a plea.

His defense attorney, Raul Gúerra, did not immediately respond to PEOPLE’s request for comment.