Will Smith Shooting: Grand Jury Indicts Man Arrested in Former Saints Player's Slaying

A grand jury has indicted the driver suspected of gunning down former New Orleans Saints player Will Smith earlier this month during a traffic dispute.

The indictment against Cardell Hayes, 28, was read in court Thursday during a probable cause hearing. He faces one count of aggravated assault with a handgun and second-degree murder, as well as one count of attempt to commit second-degree murder against Smith's wife, Racquel.
 

She was struck in both of her legsduring the late night April 9 al-tercation, and suffered non-life-threatening injuries, the family's lawyer said.

Police said the incident began when Hayes's Hummer hit Smith's Mercedes SUV f-rom behind, prompting Hayes to follow Smith when he drove away. They got into an argument about two blocks away.

A Smith family lawyer said Racquel Smith had begged for Hayes to "leave us alone," adding that she put her hands up to him and said: "Go back to your car. We have children. This is not worth this."

Hayes was arrested at the scene on suspicion of second-degree murder and has been held on $1 million bond. Police said they retrieved a second gun that was not used in his Hummer.

A lawyer for Hayes has said repeatedly that his client was not the aggressor and that the truth will come out during the investigation.

A grand jury has indicted the driver suspected of gunning down former New Orleans Saints player Will Smith earlier this month during a traffic dispute.

The indictment against Cardell Hayes, 28, was read in court Thursday during a probable cause hearing. He faces one count of aggravated assault with a handgun and second-degree murder, as well as one count of attempt to commit second-degree murder against Smith's wife, Racquel.

She was struck in both of her legsduring the late night April 9 al-tercation, and suffered non-life-threatening injuries, the family's lawyer said.

Police said the incident began when Hayes's Hummer hit Smith's Mercedes SUV f-rom behind, prompting Hayes to follow Smith when he drove away. They got into an argument about two blocks away.

A Smith family lawyer said Racquel Smith had begged for Hayes to "leave us alone," adding that she put her hands up to him and said: "Go back to your car. We have children. This is not worth this."

Hayes was arrested at the scene on suspicion of second-degree murder and has been held on $1 million bond. Police said they retrieved a second gun that was not used in his Hummer.

A lawyer for Hayes has said repeatedly that his client was not the aggressor and that the truth will come out during the investigation.

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 New video, details emerge surrounding shooting death of NFL star Will Smith 1:43

A lawyer for the Smith family has described Hayes as "enraged" during the shooting and portrayed his clients as the victims.

Smith, 34, was buried a week after he was killed, and was remembered by his family, friends and the football community as a man who wanted to make a difference in his adopted city of New Orleans.

The former first-round pick played 10 seasons with the Saints as a linebacker and defensive end until 2013.