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Thursday, March 28, 2024 | Back issues
Courthouse News Service Courthouse News Service

Man Indicted in Shooting |of Former Saints Player

(CN) - A former semipro football player was indicted Thursday on a second-degree murder charge in the shooting death of retired New Orleans Saints' defensive end Will Smith.

Cardell Hayes was also indicted on a charge of attempted murder for wounding of Smith's wife after what started as a traffic dispute.

He also faces charges of aggravated assault and aggravated damage to property.

Police said Hayes's Hummer hit Smith's Mercedes SUV from behind and they got into an argument that escalated into a shooting incident.

Hayes, who owns a tow truck company, has been in jail since the April shooting. His bond has been set at $1.75 million.

On Thursday morning, Hayes' attorney John Fuller accused prosecutors of trying to take Hayes to a grand jury proceeding when they knew that Fuller and his co-counsel would be in court on other matters. He said they were trying to "jam an indictment down our throats."

Smith was a leader on the Saints team that won the Super Bowl after the 2009 season. He retired in 2012.

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