Former USC running back Joe McKnight killed in Louisiana shooting

Sad news out of the New Orleans area as NOLA.com reports former USC running back Joe McKnight was killed in a shooting on Thursday afternoon.

Per the report:

A witness, who declined to give her name, said she was leaving a store in the area when she saw a man at the intersection yelling at another man, who was trying to apologize. The man who was yelling shot the other man more than once, she said.

Police said the shooter stayed on the scene and turned his gun into authorities.

McKnight was a local superstar during his prep days, known for his playmaking ability at powerhouse John Curtis Christian High School. The five-star recruit took his talents West to USC, where many dubbed him the next Reggie Bush for his ability to find the end zone out of the backfield.

His career with the Trojans under Pete Carroll was a star-crossed one however, with injuries and controversies playing a role in limiting his effectiveness. He finished his career with just 15 touchdowns over three years but did manage to get drafted by the New York Jets in the fourth round of the 2010 NFL Draft. He bounced around the league for several years and recently played in the CFL in 2016.

Several of McKnight’s former teammates and friends shared the news on social media after learning of the tragic news.