A surveillance video from a restaurant in New Orleans appears to show a hit-and-run incident between two vehicles matching the descriptions of former Saints defensive end Will Smith, who was driving a Mercedes G63 SUV, and Cardell Hayes, who was driving a Hummer H2, just a few minutes before Smith was killed Saturday night.
According to a report on ESPN, the video appears to show a Mercedes SUV bump the rear end of a Hummer near the intersection of Magazine Street and St. Andrew Street, roughly two blocks from where Hayes is accused of shooting and killing Smith at 11:30 p.m. ET. As the Hummer then goes to pull over to the right, the Mercedes SUV goes around him to the left—into the oncoming traffic lane—and drives off. The Hummer then pulls back into the lane and appears to pursue the Mercedes.
Hayes’ attorney, John Fuller, said Monday that his client was involved in a hit-and-run before Smith’s death.
“My client was hit,” Fuller said. “The person that hit him sped off. My client followed behind that person in an effort to get their license plate and my client called 911, which will be verified in the upcoming weeks.”
Fuller also seemed to suggest that possibly another gun on the scene could help exonerate Hayes. “It would be safe to say that not only did my client feel threatened, but citizens that were out there on that block felt threatened as well,” Fuller said. “And I think the uncovering or unearthing of a second gun will lend itself to the defense of Mr. Hayes.”
