New Orleans Saints Will Smith possibly involved in hit-and-run before being killed

A surveillance video from a New Orleans restaurant shows former New Orleans Saints defensive end Will Smith possibly involved in a hit-and-run before he was shot to death Saturday night.

The video was shown on ABC’s Good Morning America on Tuesday. Smith and his wife, Racquel, had been eating at a restaurant and left just before 11:30 p.m. The video shows that a Hummer, which was supposedly driven by Cardelle Hayes, stopped abruptly after getting hit from behind by a Mercedes SUV, which was supposedly driven by Smith, at the intersection of Magazine Street and St. Andrew.

The Hummer then pulled over to the side of the road while the Mercedes drove away. The Hummer then went after the Mercedes and followed it to the intersection of Sophie Wright and Felicity Street, which is where Smith was shot, according to WVUE/Fox 8. New Orleans police say that Smith got into a verbal exchange before he was shot. Racquel was shot in the leg but her injuries are not life threatening.

“Prior to the actions that lead to Mr. Smith's death, my client was involved in a hit and run,” John Fuller, Hayes’ attorney, said. “Someone hit him and failed to pull over. My client trailed behind this person in an effort to get their license plate number. My client also called 911.”

Hayes was arrested on Sunday and didn’t enter a plea. He is charged with second-degree murder and his bond was set at $1 million, according to ESPN. On Monday, Fuller said that Hayes didn’t know Smith and that he plans on pleading not guilty.

Smith was drafted by the Saints in 2004 and played his entire nine-year career with them. He won the Super Bowl with the Saints in 2009 and last played in 2012. Last month he was voted into the Saints' Hall of Fame.