NFL News 2016: Lawyer Says Suspect In Will Smith Shooting Was Not The Aggressor; Passenger Defends Hayes For 'Saving His Life'
The legal counsel of Cardell Hayes, the suspect for the shooting of New Orleans Saints defensive end Will Smith, has spoken up.
Hayes shot Smith in close range in an apparent road rage incident that took place on the night of April 9th in the city's Lower Garden District. In a report by ESPN, Smith was shot multiple times, while his wife Raquel was also hit, but got off with minor injuries.
As the accounts of the incident go, Smith and his wife were in their Mercedes G63 SUV when it was rear-ended by the Hummer H2 driven by Hayes. This caused Smith's SUV to hit the vehicle in front of him. Both Smith and Hayes then got into a 'heated verbal argument' before the latter drew a gun and began to open fire.
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The 34-year old Smith was pronounced dead at the scene.
Multiple speculations were made after the incident, with law enforcement officers looking at all possible angles, including toxicology reports. But in a report by Elliot C. McLaughlin for CNN, Hayes' attorney John Fuller spoke in behalf of his client, where he noted that the two men did not know each other, and that there was no pre-meditated motive on the part of Hayes.
Fuller added how Hayes chose to remain at the scene until the police arrived, and even managed to call 911 before the shooting, and secure a witness.
"Now, tell me if that's the behavior that's consistent with someone who's an animal out here looking for blood. His actions are totally consistent with someone that is complying with a police investigation," Fuller said of his client.
In another report by WDSU, Hayes' companion in the vehicle Kevin O'Neale also claimed that his life was "saved" by the accused, citing Smith also had a weapon on him. O'Neale spoke through his lawyer, attorney Tanzanike Ruffin.
"My client believes that Cardell saved his life. Smith had a gun and was going to shoot it and Cardell may have saved both of their lives … in my mind this is justifiable homicide," Ruffin said.
Hayes is facing a second-degree murder charge from the incident.
