Will Smith killer (black lives matter)
- Thread starter andy4theherd
- Start date
"Nearly a decade before Hayes landed behind bars, accused of killing former New Orleans Saints defensive end Will Smith, he faced police in federal court. That time, he was the plaintiff, suing police after officers shot and killed his father.
Hayes alleged in the lawsuit that police used excessive force when they shot and killed his father, Anthony, in December 2005, saying they had no reason to open fire. He asked for $4 million in damages.
But it’s unclear whether he received that amount. In 2011, a federal judge issued an order of dismissal after being advised that all parties “have firmly agreed upon a compromise.”
http://fox8.com/2016/04/11/cardell-...smith-shooting-sued-police-for-fathers-death/
Hayes alleged in the lawsuit that police used excessive force when they shot and killed his father, Anthony, in December 2005, saying they had no reason to open fire. He asked for $4 million in damages.
But it’s unclear whether he received that amount. In 2011, a federal judge issued an order of dismissal after being advised that all parties “have firmly agreed upon a compromise.”
http://fox8.com/2016/04/11/cardell-...smith-shooting-sued-police-for-fathers-death/
Hayes received $100,000.00 and his sister Tyiece Baptiste-Howard also received $100,000.00 - per the City of New Orleans.
From the attached article: City officials revealed Monday that they paid $100,000 to settle Hayes’ claim and an additional $100,000 to settle a lawsuit brought by Hayes’ sister Tyiece Baptiste-Howard.
Also watch the video in the second post , pretty well shows Smiths Mercedes SUV striking Hayes Hummer..then Smith drives off right after Hayes appears to begin to pull over. Obviously this does not warrant shooting Smith as well as his wife. However there is a story circulating in New Orleans that Smith actually had and possibly pulled a gun prompting Hayes to fire his weapon.
http://theadvocate.com/news/neworle...olice-killing-of-accused-will-smith-shooter-c
http://theadvocate.com/news/neworle...smith-shooting-suspect-was-emotional-on-scene
From the attached article: City officials revealed Monday that they paid $100,000 to settle Hayes’ claim and an additional $100,000 to settle a lawsuit brought by Hayes’ sister Tyiece Baptiste-Howard.
Also watch the video in the second post , pretty well shows Smiths Mercedes SUV striking Hayes Hummer..then Smith drives off right after Hayes appears to begin to pull over. Obviously this does not warrant shooting Smith as well as his wife. However there is a story circulating in New Orleans that Smith actually had and possibly pulled a gun prompting Hayes to fire his weapon.
http://theadvocate.com/news/neworle...olice-killing-of-accused-will-smith-shooter-c
http://theadvocate.com/news/neworle...smith-shooting-suspect-was-emotional-on-scene
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Loaded weapon found in Will Smiths vehicle..getting more interesting by the day. Question is , where inside the vehicle was it found , in a compartment which would indicate Smith did not exit the vehicle with the firearm , or on the floorboard or on the seat where it may have been dropped as he fell into the vehicle mortally wounded.
http://www.nola.com/crime/index.ssf/2016/04/will_smith_death_loaded_handgu.html
http://www.nola.com/crime/index.ssf/2016/04/will_smith_death_loaded_handgu.html
Latest update - this is becoming more and more interesting as information is released.
Update: 4:34 p.m.
John Fuller, the lawyer for the man accused of killing former New Orleans Saints player Will Smith, said he'll turn away a pending temporary judgeship to continue representing defendant Cardell Hayes in the case.
Fuller had been named to sit on the Orleans Parish Criminal District Court bench from May through November until an election to fill the seat of retired Judge Frank Marullo.
- Staff writer John Simerman
Original story
Will Smith’s accused murderer shot Smith’s wife twice in her legs before firing up to eight bullets into the former Saints player’s back in the Lower Garden District on Saturday night, according to a statement from an attorney representing Smith’s family.
Made after receiving the results of an autopsy, the statement from attorney Peter Thomson on Wednesday said Racquel Smith was trying to pull her husband away from an argument he was having with 28-year-old Cardell Hayes, who had rear-ended the Smiths’ car moments before, when he opened fire on both of them.
Thomson said Racquel Smith, 33, considered her 34-year-old husband to be her “Superman,” and he was “absolutely” killed by a “cold-blooded murderer” while protecting her.
One of Hayes’ attorneys, John Fuller, later responded, “While I appreciate strenuous advocacy for one’s client, one thing I am not given towards is misrepresenting the truth. I’ve told y’all my client wasn’t the agressor, and he was not.”
Surveillance videos from the neighborhood where the killing occurred suggest Smith’s Mercedes G63 lightly collided with the back of Hayes’ Hummer H2 late Saturday night, after the Smiths had dinner with friends at Sake Cafe restaurant on Magazine Street. Thomson said Smith drove off because he could not see any damage nor understand why a Hummer had stopped in front of him abruptly and then pulled over.
Thomson said Smith was not inebriated nor emotionally affected “to the point where he could not drive” while leaving dinner with his wife and two friends he was dropping off.
Not long after, at the nearby intersection of Sophie Wright Place and Felicity Street, Hayes’ Hummer ran into the back of Smith’s Mercedes, the New Orleans Police Department said. Thomson said the collision was violent enough for the back windshield on Smith’s car to shatter.
The wreck caused Smith’s Mercedes to strike a Chevrolet Impala, in which two more of his friends rode, police said.
Smith and Hayes then got out of their cars and began arguing, Thomson said. Thomson said Smith was trying to determine why Hayes had struck his car, and he was concerned for his wife.
Racquel Smith then stepped out of the Mercedes and pulled her husband away from the confrontation with the help of one of their friends, Thomson said. Racquel Smith told Hayes she and her husband had children at home, and she believed the situation had been defused, Thomson said.
“She was holding her hands up, pleading with this man to back off,” Thomson said. “My understanding is Will and Racquel wanted to just call the police and not engage this guy in any kind of a fight or altercation because he was obviously enraged or deranged.”
Hayes at some point drew a .45-caliber handgun, police have said. As the Smiths were returning to their vehicle, Hayes fired one bullet in each of Racquel Smith’s legs, causing her to collapse, Thomson said.
One bullet shattered Racquel Smith’s right femur, near the knee, Thomson said. The other bullet passed through her left thigh, Thomson said.
Hayes then shot Will Smith six to eight times in the back, Thomson said. “That’s 10 shots that we know about,” said Thomson, of the Stone Pigman law firm, which has a long relationship with Saints owner Tom Benson.
The New Orleans Coroner’s Office on Wednesday indicated seven bullets entered Smith’s back. Another struck Smith’s “left lateral chest wall,” the coroner said.
Police said Smith died while partially inside of the Mercedes. Toxicology tests remain pending, the Coroner’s Office said.
After police were called out to the scene Saturday, Hayes identified himself as the shooter and was eventually jailed on a count of second-degree murder. Officers recovered the gun they said Hayes used to shoot Smith.
Aside from Smith, his wife, their friends, and Hayes, there was one passenger in the Hummer. No one other than Smith or his wife were shot, and Hayes’ passenger was freed by police after being questioned.
Thomson said Hayes showed no remorse over the deadly incident, standing over Smith’s body and shouting after the shooting.
Hayes had not been booked with Racquel Smith’s shooting as of Wednesday, but police have said they expect to do that soon.
Police searched Smith’s Mercedes and Hayes’ Hummer on Tuesday. They discovered two additional guns: a 9mm in Smith’s car and a revolver inside Hayes’ vehicle, neither of which was fired.
A search of the Impala was pending Tuesday.
Earlier, Fuller had said Hayes felt threatened during the encounter with Smith on Saturday and was “not the aggressor.” He also said Hayes had first been rear-ended by Smith before news media outlets obtained video that captured that apparent collision.
Fuller also remarked before Tuesday that the potential discovery of another gun at the scene of Smith’s killing “would lend itself to the defense” of Hayes.
However, Thomson on Tuesday insisted Racquel Smith had defused the situation when Hayes began shooting. Hayes had no reason to feel threatened, Thomson said. Thomson said he was not aware of any threats “to go get a gun” by Smith toward Hayes.
Thomson’s statement was made less than a day after the police’s revealing that the former NFL pro had his gun in his car when he was shot dead.
Some have speculated that revelation could bolster a self-defense claim by Hayes.
Thomson said Will Smith was licensed through the state of Louisiana to carry the weapon found in his car, which nonetheless remained in “a compartment” for the duration of the incident.
Fuller, for his part, said, “I’ve told y’all my client was hit from behind, and the person who committed the crime fled, and I was right. I told y’all that there was more than one gun on the scene, and I was right about that. If and when I choose to reveal more about what I know the truth to be, that truth will be verified.”
In addition to his wife, with whom he lived in Kenner, Smith is survived by sons William and Wynter as well as daughter Lisa. A family publicist said the Smiths are surrounded by loved ones and are grateful for the communitywide support they have received.
Thomson said he expects Racquel Smith will recover from her physical injuries, but her emotional scars may never heal. He said she has shared her version of events with homicide detectives.
Thomson said his statement Wednesday was built from interviews with Racquel Smith and other witnesses to her husband’s killing.
Smith spent 10 seasons with the Saints and accumulated the fourth-most quarterback sacks in team history. He helped the team reach its first NFC title game in 2006 and then capture its lone Super Bowl at the end of the 2009 campaign.
Update: 4:34 p.m.
John Fuller, the lawyer for the man accused of killing former New Orleans Saints player Will Smith, said he'll turn away a pending temporary judgeship to continue representing defendant Cardell Hayes in the case.
Fuller had been named to sit on the Orleans Parish Criminal District Court bench from May through November until an election to fill the seat of retired Judge Frank Marullo.
- Staff writer John Simerman
Original story
Will Smith’s accused murderer shot Smith’s wife twice in her legs before firing up to eight bullets into the former Saints player’s back in the Lower Garden District on Saturday night, according to a statement from an attorney representing Smith’s family.
Made after receiving the results of an autopsy, the statement from attorney Peter Thomson on Wednesday said Racquel Smith was trying to pull her husband away from an argument he was having with 28-year-old Cardell Hayes, who had rear-ended the Smiths’ car moments before, when he opened fire on both of them.
Thomson said Racquel Smith, 33, considered her 34-year-old husband to be her “Superman,” and he was “absolutely” killed by a “cold-blooded murderer” while protecting her.
One of Hayes’ attorneys, John Fuller, later responded, “While I appreciate strenuous advocacy for one’s client, one thing I am not given towards is misrepresenting the truth. I’ve told y’all my client wasn’t the agressor, and he was not.”
Surveillance videos from the neighborhood where the killing occurred suggest Smith’s Mercedes G63 lightly collided with the back of Hayes’ Hummer H2 late Saturday night, after the Smiths had dinner with friends at Sake Cafe restaurant on Magazine Street. Thomson said Smith drove off because he could not see any damage nor understand why a Hummer had stopped in front of him abruptly and then pulled over.
Thomson said Smith was not inebriated nor emotionally affected “to the point where he could not drive” while leaving dinner with his wife and two friends he was dropping off.
Not long after, at the nearby intersection of Sophie Wright Place and Felicity Street, Hayes’ Hummer ran into the back of Smith’s Mercedes, the New Orleans Police Department said. Thomson said the collision was violent enough for the back windshield on Smith’s car to shatter.
The wreck caused Smith’s Mercedes to strike a Chevrolet Impala, in which two more of his friends rode, police said.
Smith and Hayes then got out of their cars and began arguing, Thomson said. Thomson said Smith was trying to determine why Hayes had struck his car, and he was concerned for his wife.
Racquel Smith then stepped out of the Mercedes and pulled her husband away from the confrontation with the help of one of their friends, Thomson said. Racquel Smith told Hayes she and her husband had children at home, and she believed the situation had been defused, Thomson said.
“She was holding her hands up, pleading with this man to back off,” Thomson said. “My understanding is Will and Racquel wanted to just call the police and not engage this guy in any kind of a fight or altercation because he was obviously enraged or deranged.”
Hayes at some point drew a .45-caliber handgun, police have said. As the Smiths were returning to their vehicle, Hayes fired one bullet in each of Racquel Smith’s legs, causing her to collapse, Thomson said.
One bullet shattered Racquel Smith’s right femur, near the knee, Thomson said. The other bullet passed through her left thigh, Thomson said.
Hayes then shot Will Smith six to eight times in the back, Thomson said. “That’s 10 shots that we know about,” said Thomson, of the Stone Pigman law firm, which has a long relationship with Saints owner Tom Benson.
The New Orleans Coroner’s Office on Wednesday indicated seven bullets entered Smith’s back. Another struck Smith’s “left lateral chest wall,” the coroner said.
Police said Smith died while partially inside of the Mercedes. Toxicology tests remain pending, the Coroner’s Office said.
After police were called out to the scene Saturday, Hayes identified himself as the shooter and was eventually jailed on a count of second-degree murder. Officers recovered the gun they said Hayes used to shoot Smith.
Aside from Smith, his wife, their friends, and Hayes, there was one passenger in the Hummer. No one other than Smith or his wife were shot, and Hayes’ passenger was freed by police after being questioned.
Thomson said Hayes showed no remorse over the deadly incident, standing over Smith’s body and shouting after the shooting.
Hayes had not been booked with Racquel Smith’s shooting as of Wednesday, but police have said they expect to do that soon.
Police searched Smith’s Mercedes and Hayes’ Hummer on Tuesday. They discovered two additional guns: a 9mm in Smith’s car and a revolver inside Hayes’ vehicle, neither of which was fired.
A search of the Impala was pending Tuesday.
Earlier, Fuller had said Hayes felt threatened during the encounter with Smith on Saturday and was “not the aggressor.” He also said Hayes had first been rear-ended by Smith before news media outlets obtained video that captured that apparent collision.
Fuller also remarked before Tuesday that the potential discovery of another gun at the scene of Smith’s killing “would lend itself to the defense” of Hayes.
However, Thomson on Tuesday insisted Racquel Smith had defused the situation when Hayes began shooting. Hayes had no reason to feel threatened, Thomson said. Thomson said he was not aware of any threats “to go get a gun” by Smith toward Hayes.
Thomson’s statement was made less than a day after the police’s revealing that the former NFL pro had his gun in his car when he was shot dead.
Some have speculated that revelation could bolster a self-defense claim by Hayes.
Thomson said Will Smith was licensed through the state of Louisiana to carry the weapon found in his car, which nonetheless remained in “a compartment” for the duration of the incident.
Fuller, for his part, said, “I’ve told y’all my client was hit from behind, and the person who committed the crime fled, and I was right. I told y’all that there was more than one gun on the scene, and I was right about that. If and when I choose to reveal more about what I know the truth to be, that truth will be verified.”
In addition to his wife, with whom he lived in Kenner, Smith is survived by sons William and Wynter as well as daughter Lisa. A family publicist said the Smiths are surrounded by loved ones and are grateful for the communitywide support they have received.
Thomson said he expects Racquel Smith will recover from her physical injuries, but her emotional scars may never heal. He said she has shared her version of events with homicide detectives.
Thomson said his statement Wednesday was built from interviews with Racquel Smith and other witnesses to her husband’s killing.
Smith spent 10 seasons with the Saints and accumulated the fourth-most quarterback sacks in team history. He helped the team reach its first NFC title game in 2006 and then capture its lone Super Bowl at the end of the 2009 campaign.
