Thomson alleged that Hayes then shot Racquel Smith first, one in each leg, before firing “six to eight shots” into Will Smith‘s back.
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Other questions remain. Police haven’t released the accounts of Racquel Smith, nor any other witnesses.
Smith was shot and killed after an argument ensued over a minor accident.
Cardell Hayes’ high-profile defense attorney will stay on the case until it’s over.
The former Saints defensive end’s death “has been preliminarily classified as a homicide”, the Orleans Parish coroner said.
Paramedics with New Orleans EMS transport Racquel Smith, wife of former New Orleans Saints’ Will Smith, following a shooting in New Orleans late Saturday, April 9, 2016. She also thanked the New Orleans Saints organization.
But did those weapons play any role in what unfolded Saturday night?
Smith came to New Orleans from Ohio State and quickly became a team leader.
That view was echoed by Nikole Jessie, who used to live down the street from where Smith was shot. Ceravolo was named in a lawsuit filed by Hayes against the city of New Orleans after the death of his father. “The killer is yelling over the body of Will Smith after he killed him”.
The tragic shooting of former New Orleans Saints player Will Smith shocked many across the country.
“At no time during event did Smith brandish or carry his firearm”, Thomson said. Smith was pronounced dead at the scene, his body slumped over the steering column, while Smith’s wife Racquel suffered at least one gunshot wound to the leg.
As the SUV traveled down Magazine St., a Hummer, allegedly driven by Cardell Hayes, came to an abrupt stop in front of Smith, according to Thomson.
According to Thompson, Smith and his passengers drove away after slamming on their brakes behind the Hummer, believing they did not cause any damage to the Hummer.
That decision allows Fuller, who has represented accused killer Cardell Hayes since hours after the shooting, to continue representing his client.
“Smith had a gun and was going to shoot it and Cardell may have saved both of their lives”, attorney Tanzanike Ruffin told NBC Sports. “If there’s not a gun in Will Smith’s vehicle, and what I would say, in Will Smith’s hand, because he would not be reasonably, in my opinion, reasonably in fear of his life”, Raspanti said.
Pierre Thomas, a longtime Saints running back now with the Washington Redskins, sounded off Tuesday for the first time about an incident he was “still trying to wrap my head around”. “No one else was injured in the gunfire”, a police statement said.
The gun was in a compartment in the vehicle the entire time of the incident, lawyer Peter Thomson said during a news conference on Wednesday. “When the New Orleans Police Department reveals everything that they’ve learned, then you all will have a different impression of this case than has been created thus far”. Police also say Hayes told police when they arrived that he was the shooter. Hayes’ weapon was also confiscated at the scene and every vehicle involved has been impounded for evidence.
But on Tuesday, after executing a search warrant, police found two additional weapons.
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A public visitation will be held Friday to honour Smith and a private funeral and burial will be held Saturday.
