In this handout image provided by the National Football League, former New Orleans Saints Will Smith poses for his National Football League headshot circa 2011 in Metairie, Louisiana.
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Police have alleged that Will was shot and killed, and Racquel wounded in her legs, by 28-year-old Cardell Hayes following a fender-bender crash Saturday, April 9, that triggered some kind of altercation between the men. Smith was shot to death, and his wife w… Both Ceravolo and Thomas were with Smith the night of the shooting.
Hayes’ lawyer has said his client was not the aggressor and that he’ll be vindicated when the true story is known. He played for the team during its tumultuous post-Katrina 2005 season when they traveled like nomads from stadium to stadium as the Superdome was repaired.
Derick E. Hingle/USA Today Sports Will Smith’s casket.
The missive, titled A Love Letter From Will, revealed Smith’s upbeat approach to life – and his lack of sadness at the prospect of his own departure.
Guests signed a book and prayer cards and could make donations to Smith’s “Where There’s A Will, There’s a Way Foundation”.
In the hours before Friday’s shootings, hundreds of mourners took part in a second-line parade to honor Smith and speak out against violence.
Saints quarterback Drew Brees (left) also attended Smith’s private funeral on Saturday.
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.
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He says he has offered state police resources, including forensics and DNA testing, to New Orleans police. “Every homicide in New Orleans deserves a fair, thorough and complete investigation, and that is what we are doing in this case”, NOPD spokesman Tyler Gamble said in denying the request, according to Lane.
