A hit-and-run may have sparked a deadly road rage shooting that killed retired Saints player Will Smith during a night on the town in New Orleans.
Surveillance footage obtained by WVUE-TV captures what appears to be the former defensive end’s SUV bumping into a Hummer at 11:21 p.m. — eight minutes before the assault.
Smith and his wife Racquel Joseph Smith had just left a Garden District restaurant in a Mercedes Benz before the fatal confrontation. Suspected shooter Cardell Hayes was driving a Hummer H2 at the time of Saturday’s shooting, police said.
After the minor fender-bender, the Hummer’s driver pulled over expecting the other driver to do the same, but instead, the video shows the driver speeding away and the Hummer following in pursuit.
The video bears similarity to a narrative described by defense attorney Jay Fuller on Monday, when he said Hayes called 911 while chasing another vehicle after a hit-and-run.
Fuller argued Hayes was not the aggressor in the weekend shooting.
If Fuller's statement is to be believed, the Hummer caught up to Smith’s SUV and smashed into it from behind. The impact sent Smith's vehicle careening into a third vehicle, according to New Orleans police.
Surveillance footage shows what appears to be a fender-bender where Will Smith's vehicle hit Cardell
An exchange of words followed the collision before gunfire erupted. Smith died of multiple gunshots as he stepped out of the vehicle. Gunshots allegedly fired by Hayes also struck his Smith’s wife twice in the leg.
Fuller believes there may have been a second firearm involved with the confrontation.
Hayes faces second-degree murder in Smith’s death.
Hayes’ co-defense Jay Daniels believes the newly released video “speaks for itself,” he told the Advocate.
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