RIP Will Smith (former saints DE)

[Mr. Scot]

I'm still not convinced a jury will decide that he was justified, but the case definitely just got a lot more complicated.

Given the high-profile nature of this story, life as he knew it is pretty much over for the shooter regardless of how this comes out.

[CelibatePimp]

The more the case unfolds, the more it appears Will Smith wasn't just an innocent victim of road rage, he had a part to play in events leading to his demise.

Though not everything he said was true, i would like to apologize to @chris999 for my comments about him.

 

CP.

[pantherj]

Will was shot 6 times in the chest. Usually when I hear about something senseless like this happening I think drug use was involved. Like a guy who is high on cocaine might just make the moronic move of going for his gun over a little love tap on his bumper. I'll be very interested to see the toxicology report on Will Smith and the other guy as well.

[Nick_81]

ProFootballTalk ‏@ProFootballTalk  7m7 minutes ago

Will Smith was shot once in the chest, seven times in the back

 

http://profootballtalk.nbcsports.com/2016/04/13/will-smith-was-shot-once-in-the-chest-seven-times-in-the-back/

 

[chknwing]

14 hours ago, NcPsa10 said:

Mr,Smith saying he had a gun and then a gun indeed was found  yea ,, And that my Friend is why his wife was shot as well , You tell a person you have a gun and you start walking/running back to you Suv/car  where that  gun could be . Yes you have the right to Stop any and ALL  aggressors at that time ... Still a lot will come out in this case I'm sure .

the problem is he followed smith after a hit and run.  we all have camera phones now, a simple pic of the plate and let him move on was all that was needed. he did not need to follow him and rear end him. What did he thing was gonna happen, they were gonna exchange insurance information? lol cmon. the guy was pissed and demanded immediate satisfaction to the crime committed against him and at that point a motive is established and premeditated murder can be claimed.

[Bartin]

I'm pretty sure this case hits about every gray area imaginable with regards to murder vs justifiable homicide. This is going to come down to lawyers, a jury and the nuances of the law in Louisiana. The whole thing is just a mess. I feel like I have a pretty good handle on the events that transpired and I have no clue which one it is.

[Mr. Scot]

Florio has a point. Seven shots in the back doesn't speak well for a "self defense" claim.

[Bartin]

3 minutes ago, Mr. Scot said:

Florio has a point. Seven shots in the back doesn't speak well for a "self defense" claim.

If the other guy has a gun you probably want to make sure he is dead though since it wouldn't take much for him to fire a return shot that could be lethal.

That would be my counter argument if I was Hayes' lawyer.

[Nick_81]

5 minutes ago, Mr. Scot said:

Florio has a point. Seven shots in the back doesn't speak well for a "self defense" claim.

It doesn't, but people have to look at the circumstances as well.  Smith was in the car, Hayes fired several rounds.  First round hit him in the chest, at which point he probably slumped over, exposing his back to the remaining shots(as the driver, the left side of his back would be exposed to the gunman).  Don't take this as me defending the shooter, or anyone else, just stating what possibly happened in that situation.

[Mr. Scot]

This is gonna be a nasty, messy trial.

[top dawg]

This story gets worse all the time. His wife was shot first according to the family's attorney.

http://www.nola.com/crime/index.ssf/2016/04/will_smith_death_family_attorn.html

[Mr. Scot]

1 hour ago, top dawg said:

This story gets worse all the time. His wife was shot first according to the family's attorney.

That wouldn't really fit the 'self defense' narrative either.

[Jon Snow]

45 minutes ago, Mr. Scot said:

That wouldn't really fit the 'self defense' narrative either.

Not if it was an errant shot that hit her.  He could've missed Will with the first shot and hit her by accident?  Just offering a different perspective here but the first shot could've been while the shooter was standing beside Smith while Smith was seated in the car and he missed.  You have to remember the accounts say that Smith stated he had a gun so the shooter must have saw something (real or perceived) that would trigger him to fire on Smith.  The shots to the back could have come as the shooter was moving away and behind (a defensive reaction) of Smith who was sitting in the SUV.  

Of course witness statements can hopefully detail exactly how it all went down and give an account of each persons role in the tragic events that unfolded.   But to assume the shooter is at fault here is very premature.  Yes he possibly could have avoided it by just letting Smith get away with the hit and run but to assume premeditated murder because he didn't would be tragedy in itself as Mr. Smith could've defused the situation just as easily by just stopping after he hit the guys SUV and calling the cops.  

[top dawg]

5 hours ago, Bogart said:

Not if it was an errant shot that hit her.  He could've missed Will with the first shot and hit her by accident?  Just offering a different perspective here but the first shot could've been while the shooter was standing beside Smith while Smith was seated in the car and he missed.  You have to remember the accounts say that Smith stated he had a gun so the shooter must have saw something (real or perceived) that would trigger him to fire on Smith.  The shots to the back could have come as the shooter was moving away and behind (a defensive reaction) of Smith who was sitting in the SUV.  

Of course witness statements can hopefully detail exactly how it all went down and give an account of each persons role in the tragic events that unfolded.   But to assume the shooter is at fault here is very premature.  Yes he possibly could have avoided it by just letting Smith get away with the hit and run but to assume premeditated murder because he didn't would be tragedy in itself as Mr. Smith could've defused the situation just as easily by just stopping after he hit the guys SUV and calling the cops.  

The scenario you gave doesn't jibe with the family's attorney. Did you even read the link?

"Attorney Peter Thomson said the accused killer, Cardell Hayes, targeted Racquel Smith first and has presented 'lies and factual distortions' about what happened that night." 

 

"Thomson said that Racquel Smith walked her husband back to their vehicle, but that 'the killer follows them' and shot Smith's wife in both her legs, from the side, as she stood with her husband on the driver's side of their SUV."