Cardell Hayes, 29, was found guilty of manslaughter over the shooting death of Will Smith, the retired New Orleans Saints defensive leader. Hayes shot Smith after their SUVs crashed on April 9, 2016. The jury delivered the ruling on Sunday night, Dec. 11, 2016, voting 10-2 to convict him.
He was also found guilty of attempted manslaughter of Smith’s wife Racquel Smith; she was wounded in the legs by gunfire on the night her husband was killed.
Hayes’ testified on Saturday that it was self-defense and he was reacting to a “drunken” Smith who punched him and brandished a gun that he got out of his wrecked Mercedes. “I knew for a fact that I was going to get shot.” He adds that Smith used the N-word, “… you got your gun. Well, I’m going to get mine and I’ll show you what to do with it.”
The prosecution says evidence showed that Smith never armed himself during the encounter. A pathologist’s report showed Smith was legally drunk with a high blood-alcohol level.
Video shows Smith’s SUV appearing to bump into Hayes’ Hummer before the Hummer slammed into Smith’s Mercedes blocks later. Hayes denied it was an act of vengeance and said he was trying to dial 911 and didn’t realize how close he was getting to Smith as he tried to report the apparent hit-and-run.
Hayes, a former semi-pro football player, claims the incident turned ugly when he and his passenger, Richard Hernandez, accosted him and his passenger. Hernandez stripped off his shirt and took something shiny from his pocket, which Hayes said he was afraid was a knife.
Prosecutors said Hayes shot Smith in his left side while he was still standing up straight, fired a round at Mrs. Smith’s legs before shooting seven more times into Smith’s back.
Hayes faces a possible sentence of up to 40 years in prison. He will be sentenced on Feb. 17, 2017.
