A minor fender bender involving former New Orleans Saints defensive end Will Smith and Cardell Hayes occurred just moments before Smith was shot to death, according to new surveillance video taken at multiple stops along a New Orleans street.
The New Orleans Fox affiliate worked backward from the scene of the shooting, tracing the route of Smith and his wife back to Sake Cafe, a Magazine Street restaurant and bar. Footage shows the Mercedes-Benz SUV driven by Smith traveling behind a Hummer H2. Near the intersection of Magazine and St. Andrew streets, the Hummer seems to stop short and appears to be tapped from behind by Smith’s Mercedes.
At that point, the Hummer attempts to pull over to the side of the street, but the Mercedes pulls into the opposite lane of traffic and speeds off. The Hummer drives after the Mercedes, toward the Sophie Wright and Felicity Street intersection a block and a half away. Smith was shot to death and his wife, Racquel, was wounded twice in the leg. She is recovering in a New Orleans hospital.
Hayes, who was charged with second-degree murder, is being held in Parish Prison on $1 million bail. Police told Fox they plan to add another charge related to the shooting of Smith’s wife, Racquel Smith.
John Fuller, Hayes’s attorney, noted his client remained at the scene of the shooting and was taken into custody. In addition, he said Hayes had called police after the accident.
“Prior to the actions that lead to Mr. Smith’s death, my client was involved in a hit and run,” Fuller said (via Fox). “Someone hit him and failed to pull over. My client trailed behind this person in an effort to get their license plate number. My client also called 911.”
Fuller also suggested that his client felt threatened because there was a second gun at the scene, but police superintendent Michael Harrison would not say whether there was a second gun.
Copyright: Washington Post
