New details have emerged in the “road rage” killing of former New Orleans Saints star Will Smith. “A loaded 9 mm handgun was found in the car slain former New Orleans Saints defensive end Will Smith was driving Saturday night when he was shot and killed,” ajc.com reports. “The discovery of the weapon came after the police executed a search warrant Tuesday for the interior of Smith’s SUV.” The lawyer for the accused, Cardell Hayes, also revealed . . .
his client “felt threatened” by the presence of a second weapon prior to the shooting. Untill late Tuesday, police has said they found no second weapon at the scene of the shooting.
“It would be safe to say that not only did my client feel threatened but citizens that were out there in that block felt threatened as well and I think the unearthing of a second gun will lend itself to the defense of Mr. Hayes,” Fuller said.
According to the attorney for the man who was a passenger in Hayes’ car that night, Kevin O’Neale, Hayes was protecting both himself and O’Neale when the shooting happened.
“Smith had a gun and was going to shoot it and Cardell may have saved both of their lives,” attorney Tanzanike Ruffin told NBC Sports. “In my mind, this is justifiable homicide. We assume Will Smith is a saint but he’s not.”
So to speak. The case is sure to evoke Louisiana’s “Stand Your Ground” defense for justifiable homicide. The fact that Hayes made no attempt to flee the scene will impact the killing, as well as the testimony from passengers in Hayes’ car. And the fact that he was a prohibited person for a prior felony.
In any case, the case is sure to enervate the enemies of firearms freedom, who may or may not refer to the fact that Hayes’ father was shot and killed by New Orleans police.