Man Convicted of Manslaughter in Killing of Former New Orleans Saints Player Will Smith

A man has been convicted of killing former NFL defensive end Will Smith after an argument following a car crash in New Orleans in April 2016.

On Saturday, a jury found Cardell Hayes guilty of manslaughter Saturday morning, according to multiple sources. Hayes, who faces up to 40 years in prison, was acquitted of attempted murder with a firearm in connection with the wounding of Smith’s wife, Racquel Smith, ABC News reports.

Hayes, 36, was previously convicted of the crime in December 2016, but his conviction was overturned when the US Supreme Court banned unanimous verdicts, according to the Associated Press. In the first trial, Hayes was also convicted of attempted murder with a firearm for the injuries sustained by Smith’s wife. Hayes had served more than four years of a 25-year sentence when his first conviction was overturned and he was released on bail.

As PEOPLE previously reported, according to a 2016 New Orleans police statement, the altercation between Hayes and the New Orleans Saints player, 34, occurred after Smith rear-ended Hayes’ car with his Hummer near the intersection of Sophie Wright Place and Felicity Street.

Cardell Hayes.

The two men reportedly “exchanged words” after the crash and Hayes, then 28, “pulled out a gun and shot Smith multiple times.” One of those shots hit Racquel in the right leg, police said.

Hayes’ defense said Smith feared for his life and acted in self-defense by shooting Smith. While there was evidence that Smith was up to three times the legal blood alcohol level at the time of the altercation, there was no evidence that he had a weapon, according to the AP.

“One man fired one gun,” District Attorney Jason Williams said in his closing arguments, according to the paper.

Cardell Hayes out of court in September 2023.

AP Photo/Gerald Herbert

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After the retrial, Racquel and her family released a statement, reports ESPN.

“Every time we set foot in this courthouse, we were forced to relive the worst moments of our lives,” it said. “As hard as it was to sit and listen to the autopsy reports and the lies about the night Will was killed and I was shot, we came every day brave and strong because we fought for Will. I can look my kids in the eye and tell them I gave everything in pursuit of justice on Will’s behalf.”

Father-of-three Smith played for the Saints between 2004 and 2013 and helped his former team to a winning season in 2006, bringing joy to the city after it was devastated by Hurricane Katrina in 2005. He was also on the team in 2010 when the Saints won the Super Bowl .

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