#WillSmith Dead: Former Saints Player Shot & Killed After Car Crash - HWL

Former New Orleans Saints defensive end Will Smith was fatally shot during a suspected road rage incident in New Orleans Lower Garden District on April 9. Will’s wife, Racquel Smith, was also shot twice in the leg and rushed to the hospital. Click through for the details.
Super Bowl winner and former New Orleans Saints defensive end Will Smith, 34, was shot on the night of April 9 after arguing with the driver of a Hummer H2, Cardell Hayes, 28, who rear-ended his car, according to the New Orleans PD. Cardell allegedly shot Will six to eight times; he was pronounced dead at the scene.

The apparent road rage incident began when the Hummer hit Will’s Mercedes from behind at approximately 11:30pm, according to police; Will then collided with a Chevy in front of him. “The male victim and the driver of the Hummer exchanged words at which time the driver of the Hummer produced a handgun and shot the male victim multiple times,” read a statement from the New Orleans PD. The handgun was found on the scene.


Will’s wife, Racquel Smith, 34, was shot twice in her right leg and rushed to the hospital; she thankfully survived. Cardell was taken into police custody and booked at the Orleans Parish Prison at 8:00am on April 10 on charges of second-degree murder. Former Saints running back Pierre Thomas was on the scene shortly after the shooting; he was out that night with Will and Racquel.