New Orleans, Louisiana – In a tragic turn of events, a man has been sentenced to 25 years in prison for the fatal shooting of former New Orleans Saints defensive lineman, Will Smith, following a traffic altercation in 2016. The sentencing was delivered in New Orleans after Cardell Hayes, 36, was found guilty of manslaughter in a retrial of the case from more than seven years ago.
Hayes, who had been previously convicted by a non-unanimous jury, was acquitted on a related charge of attempted manslaughter in his second trial. Smith, who played nine seasons with the Saints from 2004 to 2012 and was part of their Super Bowl-winning team in 2009, was tragically shot eight times, seven of them in the back, after an altercation that stemmed from a car accident.
The evidence presented during the trial indicated that Smith was intoxicated at the time of the incident. Hayes, however, maintained that he was acting in self-defense. The case sparked significant public interest and debate, especially in the sports community, given Smith’s prominence in the NFL and the shocking nature of his death.
The shooting of Will Smith shook the city of New Orleans and the wider NFL community. His legacy as a talented athlete and Super Bowl champion was tragically cut short in a senseless act of violence. The sentencing of Hayes to 25 years in prison serves as a reminder of the consequences of such actions and the importance of seeking justice for victims of violence.
The retrial and subsequent sentencing of Cardell Hayes bring a sense of closure to a case that has lingered for years. While it cannot undo the tragedy that occurred, it holds the perpetrator accountable for his actions. The memory of Will Smith lives on in the hearts of his family, friends, and fans, who continue to honor his contributions to the game of football and the community.