by ramon antonio vargas and nick underhill|
rvargas@theadvocate.com nunderhill@theadvocate.com
Update, 1:24 p.m.; Sunday, April 10
NOPD Superintendent Michael Harrison said at a Sunday afternoon press conference that police had uncovered no information so far that Smith and Hayes knew each other, although detectives were continuing to probe that line of inquiry.
And on another question hovering over the shooting, Harrison said police had no information to suggest that NOPD officers’ fatal shooting of Hayes’s father in 2005 had any link to the killing of Smith.
"Our investigation continues as to motive of the shooting, and whether or not Smith and Hayes knew each other prior to this incident," Harrison said.
Officers arrived to the scene within four minutes of the first call of shots fired, Harrison said. From what those cops saw on the scene, according to the superintendent, Hayes stayed there of his own accord rather than being restrained by Smith’s acquaintances.
Hayes’s gun was the only one confiscated from the scene, Harrison said, but police have seized all three vehicles involved for searches. Harrison said police are still investigating to determine whether Hayes’s weapon was legally owned.
“While this was an isolated incident, it was certainly tragic at every level and on all sides,” Harrison said. “We absolutely do not tolerate this type of behavior on the streets of New Orleans, and we will build a strong case for the district attorney to prosecute Cardell Hayes to the fullest extent of the law.”
Update, 11:34 a.m., Sunday, April 10:
Cardell Hayes sued city of New Orleans after police killed dad in 2005. Click here for the full story.
Update, 11 a.m., Sunday, April 10:
The following is a statement from New Orleans Mayor Mitch Landrieu: "I am shocked and saddened by the tragic loss of former New Orleans Saints player Will Smith. My thoughts and prayers are with Will's family and those who loved him dearly. The senseless acts of violence have to stop. Traffic accidents should not lead to someone losing their life.
"I want to thank NOPD and our first responders for a swift response to this incident. NOPD has arrested Cardell Hayes and booked him with Second Degree Murder. NOPD is continuing its investigation at this time."
Update, 8:45 a.m., Sunday, April 10:
New Orleans police have booked 28-year-old Cardell Hayes with second-degree murder in the fatal shooting of former Saints player Will Smith late Saturday.
Smith was shot during an argument after a traffic accident in the Lower Garden District about 11:30 p.m. Smith’s wife, Racquel Smith, sustained two gunshot wounds to the leg and was hospitalized.
Hayes in 2014 pleaded guilty as a first-time offender to illegal carrying of a weapon as well as possession of drug paraphernalia. He was sentenced to six months probation.
Original story
Former New Orleans Saints player Will Smith was fatally shot following a three-car accident in the Lower Garden District late Saturday, according to city coroner Dr. Jeffrey Rouse. His wife was wounded, and a 30-year-old man who has not been identified is in custody following a deadly incident that possibly occurred due to road rage.
Smith, 34, was shot about 11:30 p.m. near the corner of Sophie Wright Place and Felicity Street.
Police said Smith was driving east on Sophie Wright Place when his silver Mercedes G63 SUV was struck from behind by an orange Hummer H2. That collision caused the Mercedes to strike the rear of a dark Chevrolet Impala, in which there were two people who were described as acquaintances of Smith.
Police said Smith was driving east on Sophie Wright Place when his silver Mercedes G63 SUV was struck from behind by an orange Hummer H2. That collision caused the Mercedes to strike the rear of a dark Chevrolet Impala, in which there were two people who were described as acquaintances of Smith.
Smith and the driver of the Hummer exchanged words, police said. The driver of the Hummer then drew a handgun and shot Smith multiple times. Smith’s wife — Racquel Smith, a passenger in the Mercedes — was shot twice in the right leg.
Smith was pronounced dead at the scene. His wife was taken to University Medical Center for treatment.
Police were interviewing the driver of the Hummer early Sunday, and officers had recovered the gun used in the deadly shooting. In a statement, police said the Hummer’s driver waited at the scene of the shooting for police to arrive.
No other information was immediately available. Hours before his death, Smith had posted an Instagram photograph with Racquel above a caption reading, “Having a blast at” French Quarter Fest, which has been going on in New Orleans since Thursday. WVUE-TV reporter Rob Krieger reported that Smith had eaten dinner at Sake Cafe on Magazine Street with Racquel not long before he was killed. It appeared Smith had also been at dinner with former Saints teammate Pierre Thomas shortly before being gunned down, based on a photograph on Twitter.
Times-Picayune photographer Michael DeMocker captured a picture of Thomas at the scene of Smith’s shooting, looking distraught. It was not clear if Thomas was one of the Smiths’ acquaintances in the Impala.
In college, Smith won a national championship with Ohio State’s football team, when the Buckeyes defeated the Miami Hurricanes in double overtime at the 2003 Fiesta Bowl. The Saints then drafted him in the first-round of the 2004 NFL draft.
The prolific pass-rusher led New Orleans in quarterback sacks in 2005, ‘06, ‘07 and ‘09.
Smith earned a Pro Bowl berth in 2006, when he helped the Saints reach their first-ever NFC title game, a little more than a year after Hurricane Katrina devastated New Orleans.
He — along with Thomas — later helped the Saints win their lone Super Bowl title at the end of the 2009 campaign.
Smith’s 67.5 quarterback sacks with the Saints are fourth all-time in team history, behind only Rickey Jackson (115), Wayne Martin (82.5) and Pat Swilling (76.5).
Smith never played for the Saints again after tearing an anterior cruciate ligament in a 2013 exhibition at Houston. He spent some time in the preseason with New England in 2014 before his NFL career ended.
Aside from his wife, his survivors include two sons and a daughter.
“A senseless and tragic loss,” Saints spokesman Greg Bensel wrote in a statement early Sunday. “Our thoughts and prayers are with Will Smith, his wife Racquel, and his children William, Wynter and Lisa.”
Saints coach Sean Payton echoed Bensel, saying via Twitter, “Pray for (Smith’s) wife’s recovery and their children.”
Smith’s publicist released a statement on behalf of the former Saint’s family later Sunday that expressed thanks “for the outpouring of support and prayers.”
“We ask that you continue to respect the family’s privacy as they grieve the loss of a devoted husband, father and friend,” the statement said.
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