(* I have decided to defer to NOLA.COM – Click Here for related articles *)
I am a loyal New Orleans Saints fan and I love living here. I see too much vitriol and confusion surrounding the death of one-time Saint defensive end Will Smith.
So I am going to try and keep an eye out from a variety of news outlets and some less reliable sources (I will be clear where I got the information) to sort it out for myself as much as anyone else who reads this.
TIMELINE:
Saturday April 10, 2016:
3:44PM Central Time
French Quarter, New Orleans, Louisiana
Will Smith was at French Quarter Fest with his wife Racquel. He posted a picture of his wife and himself enjoying the Fest on Instagram.
After Leaving #FQF:
Sake Cafe – 2830 Magazine Street, New Orleans, LA
Source: Will Smith & his wife were eating at Sake Cafe before shooting happened & on way to Windsor Court. @FOX8NOLA pic.twitter.com/Q4SijpmAJJ
— Rob Krieger (@Rob_Krieger) April 10, 2016
Photo:
Will Smith 1-hour before being shot & killed, w/Pierre Thomas & former NOPD commander Billy Ceravolo.
So sad. pic.twitter.com/PMFpRm3vOl— Fletcher Mackel (@FletcherMackel) April 10, 2016
Will Smith and his wife had dinner at Sake Cafe Uptown. The were with another former Saint Pierre Thomas and former NOPD commander Billy Ceravolo. Afterward they were reported to be on their way to Windsor Court.
11:30PM
Near the corner of Sophie Wright Place and Felicity Street
Will is driving his silver Mercedes G63 SUV following behind a dark colored Chevrolet Impala that was reportedly driven by an acquaintance of Smith. An orange Hummer H2 driven by 28 year old Cardell Hayes rear-ends Smith’s SUV. (New Orleans Advocate)
Witnesses: #Saints Will Smith shot to death in car on Camp St, wife wounded pic.twitter.com/JNoFmnZRXk
— Michael DeMocker (@MichaelDeMocker) April 10, 2016
Hayes pulled a gun during a verbal altercation (with Smith still in the SUV?) and fired multiple times. (Michael DeMocker)
He then remained on scene when he was taken into custody. (NOLA.COM)
Smith’s wife Racquel was taken to University Hospital for treatment of her wounds. (New Orleans Advocate)
Witnesses say there seemed to be a bullet hole in the windshield of Smith’s SUV and he was slumped over the wheel. Smith’s wife was laying on the pavement with two gunshots to her leg. Smith was pronounced dead at the scene. (NOLA.COM)
Sunday April 10, 2016:
2:45AM
Near the corner of Sophie Wright Place and Felicity Street
The SUV owned by Smith is towed away and his body is removed by the New Orleans Coroner’s Office. (NOLA.COM)
9:17AM
Orleans Parish Prison, New Orleans, LA
Cardell Hayes was booked into the Orleans Parish Prison and is initially charged with second degree murder in the death of Will Smith. (OPP)
1:00PM
NOPD Headquarters, New Orleans, LA
Police held their first press conference about the murder of Will Smith.
MOTIVES?
Road Rage:
Was this as simple and ludicris as a ‘road rage’ accident as as been reported? While it is not impossible, it is one of the few violent crimes that isn’t particularly common in New Orleans.
Personal Grudge:
While no one has officially gone on the record, there are many rumors that the shooter was on the Saints practice team at one time. Another interesting claim is that he was part of Saints security in some capacity. Both of these as of yet unsubstantiated claims could suggest he and Smith had a prior knowledge of one another.
Ceravolo?
One initial claim that has been confirmed is that Smith was having dinner with Billy Ceravolo. He was a retired NOPD commander. How is this relevant? It turns out that while Hayes had some criminal history, his father had been shot and killed by the NOPD.
In December of 2005 Hayes’ father, who was ‘mentally unstable’ had pulled a knife on a clerk at a drug store on St. Charles Avenue in New Orleans. He had refused to drop the blade and other commands given by multiple NOPD officers who had responded. Ultimately he was shot dead. Named in the wrongful death lawsuit was the Smith’s dinner companion that evening at Sake Cafe, Billy Ceravolo. (WWLTV)
My Questions:
- Did Hayes recognize Smith while driving behind him?
- Did Hayes and Smith have any interaction before the collision?
- Did Will Smith exit his SUV?
- Was Smith shot outside of the car initially or were all the shots fired into the car?
- Did Racquel shot outside of the car initially or were all the shots fired into the car?
- Did the gunshots to Racquel result from her being fired at or in the line of fire?
- Did Hayes know Smith had dinner with Ceravolo?