Man Sentenced to 25 Years in Prison for Shooting Death of Former Saints DE Will Smith

Cardell Hayes was sentenced to 25 years in prison Thursday for shooting and killing former NFL defensive end Will Smith in 2016.

Hayes was originally convicted of manslaughter in December 2016, but the conviction was later thrown out because the jury voted 10-2. The Supreme Court outlawed non-unanimous verdicts for people accused of serious crimes in 2020.

Hayes was retried and unanimously convicted of manslaughter in January. The trial underwent several delays due to the COVID-19 pandemic and other factors.

Hayes and Smith got into an altercation in April 2016 when Hayes rear-ended Smith's vehicle. Hayes shot Smith eight times during the confrontation, including seven shots in the back.

Toxicology reports indicated Smith was legally intoxicated at the time of the crash. Hayes claimed Smith was the aggressor in the confrontation and he only fired shots in self defense. No witnesses corroborated Hayes' depiction of events.

Smith's wife, who was with him at the time, was also injured in the incident. Hayes was acquitted on charges of attempted manslaughter related to Smith's wife.

Smith played his entire 10-year NFL career with the New Orleans Saints. He was 34 years old.