The lawyers were granted motions to preserve the possible evidence by Orleans Parish Magistrate Court on Friday, the same day a public memorial was held for Smith.
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Former New Orleans Saints’ defensive end Will Smith is scheduled to be laid to rest Saturday, a week after he was shot and killed during a shocking traffic altercation.
Smith’s wife, Racquel Smith, attended the memorial in her first public appearance since the footballer’s untimely death, wearing dark sunglasses and sitting in a wheelchair to pay her respects to her late husband. Pallbearers included Smith’s former Saints teammates.
A private funeral and burial are to be held Saturday.
Smith was shot and killed in New Orleans early Sunday. Police say both men died after being shot multiple times.
Then, prosecutors say, Hayes pulled out a gun and shot Smith, killing him.
Hayes was arrested soon after the shooting and charged with second-degree murder.
The former defensive end was honored by Saints owners Tom and Gayle Benson and other executives, as well as coaches Sean Payton, Joe Vitt and Bill Johnson and general manager Mickey Loomis. Behind the casket were three large photos of Smith playing football.
State Police Superintendent Mike Edmonson said the incident involving Hayes, 30, took place within the city limits, thus the NOPD “exercises original jurisdiction” over the investigation.
Nearby, a video screen showed snippets of Smith’s famous tackles as well as photos from his life off the field.
One of the most poignant moments came when a fan stood before Smith’s casket and played “When the Saints Goes Marching In” on a horned instrument.
Fuller issued the letter Friday asking for state police or the Federal Bureau of Investigation to take over.
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The NOPD responded to Fuller’s letter in a statement, saying, “Every homicide in New Orleans deserves a fair, thorough and complete investigation, and that is what we are doing in this case”.
