Former Saints DE Will Smith Shot and Killed

http://profootballtalk.nbcsports.com/2016/04/10/report-former-saints-defensive-end-will-smith-shot-and-killed/

Report: Former Saints defensive end Will Smith shot and killed

Posted by Mike Florio on April 10, 2016, 2:01 AM EDT
Will Smith
AP
Staff photographer Michael DeMocker of the New Orleans Times-Picayune reports via Twitter that former Saints defensive end Will Smith was shot and killed in New Orleans late Saturday night.

DeMocker attributes to unidentified witnesses the news that Smith has died and his wife was wounded. One photo posted by DeMocker shows former Saints running back Pierre Thomas at the scene, “distraught” at the news that Smith was murdered.

The most recent item on the Times-Picayune website reports that a man was killed and a woman was injured in a shooting, but the article does not as of this posting identify the victims.

Twitter currently is buzzing with the news. Cardinals defensive back Tyrann Mathieu, a New Orleans native who played college football at LSU, has acknowledged the news. Also, “RIP Will Smith” is trending.

Smith posted on Instagram earlier Saturday a photo from the French Quarter Fest in New Orleans.

A first-round pick in 2004, Smith played nine years for the Saints. He had a career-high 13 sacks in 2009, a season that culminated in the franchise’s only NFL championship.

If the report from the Times-Picayune is accurate, we extend our condolences to Smith, his family, friends, teammates, and colleagues.

UPDATE 2:05 a.m. ET: The online article posted by the New Orleans Times-Picayune now confirms that Will Smith was killed in the shooting, according to New Orleans police.

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RIP

Confirmed, evidently it was a road rage incident.

http://www.nola.com/saints/index.ssf/2016/04/ex-saints_will_smith_shot_to_d.html

Damn shame, only 34 and a couple of years into retirement. Rest in peace.

Wow, sad. I wonder what happened? I understand road rage is not excusable but you always wonder if the situation could have been de-escalated.

Article says the shooter is being questioned. Uh, what set of circumstances exist that he's not under arrest?

Damn.

NEW ORLEANS -- Former Saints defensive end Will Smith was shot to death in New Orleans' Lower Garden District on Saturday night following a traffic collision, the coroner's office confirmed.

Smith, 34, was shot after exchanging words with the driver of a Hummer H2 that rear-ended his Mercedes G63 SUV, causing him to strike another vehicle, police said.

Smith was shot multiple times, and his wife, Racquel, also 34, was shot twice in the right leg, according to police. Smith was pronounced dead at the scene, while his wife was taken to a hospital.

Smith's family released a statement Sunday morning.

"On behalf of the Smith family, we are thankful 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."

Police said the driver of the Hummer, Cardell Hayes, 28, has been charged with second-degree murder and that the handgun used in the shooting had been recovered.

People are crazy. This is terrible. RIP

That's a big mofo.

Iamtdg said:

People are crazy. This is terrible. RIP

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Was reading this was like the 30th murder in New Orleans so far this year.

[h=1]Will Smith's shooting: Cardell Hayes booked on 2nd-degree murder in ex-Saint's killing[/h]


Cardell Hayes, 28, was booked on 2nd-degree murder on Sunday, April 10.

By Katherine Sayre, NOLA.com | The Times-Picayune The Times-Picayune
Email the author | Follow on Twitter

on April 10, 2016 at 9:26 AM, updated April 10, 2016 at 10:10 AM






Cardell Hayes was booked on second-degree murder Sunday (April 10) in the shooting death of former Saints defensive end Will Smith, police said.

Smith, 34, was shot to death inside a Mercedes SUV in the Lower Garden District around 11:30 p.m. in an apparent road rage episode, New Orleans police said. The shooter was the driver of a Hummer H2 that careened into the back of Smith's SUV at Sophie Wright Place and Felicity Street, police said.

The two men "exchanged words" before the driver of the Hummer pulled out a gun and began firing, police said. Witnesses reported hearing six to eight shots.

Hayes, 28, was booked into Orleans Parish Prison around 8 a.m. Sunday, records show. Police had taken a suspected shooter into custody at the scene Saturday night. (Read more about Hayes here.)
Smith's wife Racquel was taken away in an ambulance with two shots to her right leg.

Hayes has one previous arrest, on Aug. 1, 2010, court records show. Hayes was charged with illegal carrying of a weapon, illegal possession of codeine and possession of drug paraphernalia, among other charges. He pleaded guilty in June 2012 to a weapons charge and the possession of codeine, and received a 5-year prison sentence that was immediately suspended. But Hayes withdrew his guilty plea the following month, records show.

In June 2013, Hayes rejected a plea offer from prosecutors. Finally, in January 2014 he pleaded guilty to a reduced weapons charge and to a count of possession of drug paraphernalia. He received a suspended six-month sentence, records show.

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Appears to be a fine young man who was just upset his Hummer was damaged. Wonder how he got that vehicle? Bet he holds a good job down and everything.

boozeman said:

Was reading this was like the 30th murder in New Orleans so far this year.

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I visit Nola next August. Some scary shit, to be sure.

boozeman said:

Appears to be a fine young man who was just upset his Hummer was damaged. Wonder how he got that vehicle? Bet he holds a good job down and everything.

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Yeah, I'm sure. How else would he be able to afford a Hummer?

boozeman said:

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boozeman said:

Was reading this was like the 30th murder in New Orleans so far this year.

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20th in the last 26 days.

New Orleans lives matter!!

Rev said:

20th in the last 26 days.

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Wow. That's insane.