New Orleans Saints

Cardell Hayes found guilty of manslaughter in Will Smith shooting

Published Jun. 30, 2017 6:28 p.m. ET

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Cardell Hayes was found guilty of attempted manslaughter and guilty of manslaughter on Sunday in the shooting death of former Saints defensive end Will Smith. 

Hayes shot Smith to death on April 9 in New Orleans after a road rage incident. Hayes’s defense was that he believed Smith had a gun and he was acting in self-defense, telling the jury “I knew for a fact that I was going to get shot.”

Smith’s blood-alcohol content was found to be over Louisiana’s legal limit at the time of the incident. 

Saints coach Sean Payton was present in the courtroom when the verdict was reached.

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