Police: Weapon found in Smith’s vehicle

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Associated Press

NEW ORLEANS

Police found a fully loaded gun inside the vehicle former New Orleans Saints star Will Smith was driving the night he was shot, but there was no evidence that it had been fired, police said Tuesday.

In a statement, police shed new light on the shocking death of the New Orleans football legend who was shot and killed Saturday night. Police have said that Smith and his wife were shot by Cardell Hayes after a traffic altercation.

Among the other news released in the statement: Hayes told police on the scene that he was the shooter, police also found a loaded revolver inside Hayes’ vehicle and Smith had two other passengers in his vehicle Saturday night in addition to his wife, although neither was wounded.

Authorities said there was no evidence to suggest either weapon found during a search of the vehicles Tuesday morning was fired during the shooting and that the gun in Smith’s vehicle was fully loaded. Police did not say whether the .9 mm handgun belonged to Smith or someone else in the vehicle.

Instead, police said Hayes shot Smith with a different handgun.

“During the argument, Hayes produced a .45 caliber handgun and opened fire, striking Smith and his wife. No one else was injured in the gunfire,” police said in the statement. Smith’s wife was shot in the leg but survived and was taken to the hospital.

“Hayes was on the scene when officers arrived and identified himself as the shooter. Detectives detained and questioned Hayes. Based on the interview and evidence gathered from the scene, detectives arrested Hayes and booked him with Second Degree Murder. An additional charge for Smith’s wife’s injury is pending further investigation,” the statement read.

Police earlier had said they confiscated a weapon at the scene believed to have been used to shoot Smith, but until Tuesday had not commented on whether Smith had his own weapon or whether any other weapons were found.

The statement Tuesday is the latest twist in a case that has riveted a city where Smith was a fan favorite.