Ex-Saint Will Smith shot and killed in crash flare-up

[groundloop]

Source: CBS News

Former New Orleans Saints defensive end Will Smith, a key player on the team's Super Bowl win in 2010 and an ex-player beloved in the city, was shot and killed on his way back from dinner late Saturday night, according to police.

Smith, 34, was accompanied by his wife at the time of the incident, and she was also injured by the barrage of bullets directed at the couple, but is expected to survive, reports CBS affiliate WWL-TV in New Orleans.

Smith, who played for a decade for the Saints, was shot after a three car accident in the city's Lower Garden District. Police told WWL that a Hummer H2 rear-ended Smith's Mercedes-Benz SUV causing Smith's vehicle to rear-end another car driven by one of his friends.

Smith exited his vehicle around 11:30 p.m. Saturday night and started arguing with the driver of the hummer. The Hummer driver, who has not been identified but officials say is 30 years old, was apprehended after he allegedly unloaded a fusillade of bullets at Smith and his vehicle. The driver and another person have been apprehended and are being questioned in the incident.

Read more: http://www.cbsnews.com/news/will-smith-former-saints-defensive-end-shot-killed-new-orleans-crash/

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Yet another senseless gun death.

[FailureToCommunicate]

1. There are so many each and every day. This one is in the press only because of the victim's

notoriety no doubt.

Condolences to Mr Smith's family, and his wife's family.

[mnhtnbb]

2. This was already posted in GD

http://www.democraticunderground.com/10027749659

[Docreed2003]

3. I'm speechless...

Such a tragic loss. Will was a great ambassador for the Saints and the city of New Orleans...RIP.

[Botany]

4. He will always be a Buckeye

2002 national champ team .... watching that season w/my son was special

[CanonRay]

5. When a gun is kept in the car

a fist fight turns into an gunfight.

[groundloop]

10. That's the exact reason I'm terrified of guns on college campuses

Several states, mine included, have been taking campus security decisions away from the board of regents and passing legislation to force colleges to allow guns on campus. Bad, bad decision.... kids, especially drunk ones, are going to overreact to provocation. More incidents like this will be the end result.

[TexasBushwhacker]

11. Nailed it!

And one could say the same about the addition of a gun to any situation. Yes, occasionally gun owners are able to protect themselves or their loved ones against genuine threats. But far more often, those guns are used in ways that are irresponsible, dangerous and sometimes illegal. I will be interested to see if the killer has any prior violent crimes on his record.

[SFnomad]

16. I read elsewhere that he had a illegal gun possession charge on his record

It was included with a drug charge. I believe the article stated he got probation for that prior offense.

[Duckhunter935]

26. That is a big part of of the problem

[Doctor_J]

32. Yep. This was a fender bender. Add two guns to the equation, and it's a homicide

What a country

[msanthrope]

6. WTF?

[catbyte]

7. WTF is the matter with people? Thanks for nothing, NRA, and your "Second Amendment Solutions"

to everything. I guess it's the Smith's fault for not packing heat, right, Wayne? I am so goddamned sick and tired of this. BTW, every time I see a Hummer being driven by someone who isn't active military, my first thought is, "What an asshole." They're usually very rude drivers and are trying to make up for their own inadequacies by driving a huge jackass vehicle. My condolences to the Smith family and friends. I'm glad they have the creep in custody.

[SoapBox]

8. And the NRA wants more guns and no restrictions...

Wil America ever wake up?

[Sancho]

9. People Control, Not Gun Control

This is my generic response to gun threads where people are shot and killed by the dumb or criminal possession of guns. For the record, I grew up in the South and on military bases. I was taught about firearms as a child, and I grew up hunting, was a member of the NRA, and I still own guns. In the 70’s, I dropped out of the NRA because they become more radical and less interested in safety and training. Some personal experiences where people I know were involved in shootings caused me to realize that anyone could obtain and posses a gun no matter how illogical it was for them to have a gun. Also, easy access to more powerful guns, guns in the hands of children, and guns that weren’t secured are out of control in our society. As such, here’s what I now think ought to be the requirements to possess a gun. I’m not debating the legal language, I just think it’s the reasonable way to stop the shootings. Notice, none of this restricts the type of guns sold. This is aimed at the people who shoot others, because it’s clear that they should never have had a gun.

1.) Anyone in possession of a gun (whether they own it or not) should have a regularly renewed license. If you want to call it a permit, certificate, or something else that's fine.
2.) To get a license, you should have a background check, and be examined by a professional for emotional and mental stability appropriate for gun possession. It might be appropriate to require that examination to be accompanied by references from family, friends, employers, etc. This check is not to subject you to a mental health diagnosis, just check on your superficial and apparent gun-worthyness.
3.) To get the license, you should be required to take a safety course and pass a test appropriate to the type of gun you want to use.
4.) To get a license, you should be over 21. Under 21, you could only use a gun under direct supervision of a licensed person and after obtaining a learner’s license. Your license might be restricted if you have children or criminals or other unsafe people living in your home. (If you want to argue 18 or 25 or some other age, fine. 21 makes sense to me.)
5.) If you possess a gun, you would have to carry a liability insurance policy specifically for gun ownership - and likely you would have to provide proof of appropriate storage, security, and whatever statistical reasons that emerge that would drive the costs and ability to get insurance.
6.) You could not purchase a gun or ammunition without a license, and purchases would have a waiting period.
7.) If you possess a gun without a license, you go to jail, the gun is impounded, and a judge will have to let you go (just like a DUI).
8.) No one should carry an unsecured gun (except in a locked case, unloaded) when outside of home. Guns should be secure when transporting to a shooting event without demonstrating a special need. Their license should indicate training and special carry circumstances beyond recreational shooting (security guard, etc.). If you are carrying your gun while under the influence of drugs or alcohol, you lose your gun and license.
9.) If you buy, sell, give away, or inherit a gun, your license information should be recorded.
10.) If you accidentally discharge your gun, commit a crime, get referred by a mental health professional, are served a restraining order, etc., you should lose your license and guns until reinstated by a serious relicensing process.

Most of you know that a license is no big deal. Besides a driver’s license you need a license to fish, operate a boat, or many other activities. I realize these differ by state, but that is not a reason to let anyone without a bit of sense pack a semiautomatic weapon in public, on the roads, and in schools. I think we need to make it much harder for some people to have guns.

[Cartoonist]

13. Tell it to the NRA

I agree with all your points. The NRA will fight to the death against all of them.

[jtuck004]

18. Idaho just passed permit-less concealed carry.

Gov said the Second Amendment is all the license we need.

Probably won't change much.

[Skittles]

24. gun humpers need to have insurance

losing your license for being a FOOL is *NOT ENOUGH*

[RantinRavin]

27. Sounds great

But when do criminals care about following the law?

[Sancho]

28. The idea is to prevent EASY access to guns by dangerous people...

and have some reasonable way to regulate a dangerous product.

A license is not aimed at criminal prosecution. Criminals drive cars, but a driver's license is not created to screen for criminals.

Most shootings are not by hard-core criminals - even though impulsive and emotional people often have some unlawful behaviors that predict potential to be dangerous.

[LanternWaste]

29. One may imagine that "criminals care about following the law" is a poor case

One may imagine that "criminals care about following the law" is a poor case to allow or deny a law, unless one think murder is a bad law as many criminals obviously do not pay it any heed...

[Angel Martin]

30. gun criminals don't follow any gun laws , including these ones

trying to deal with gun crime by putting law abiding gun owners thru all this red tape

makes about as much sense as trying to fix high school behavior problems by giving all the well behaved students detentions and lines.

Here is your shooter with a previous history of gun crimes etc. Deal with him first.

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

[Ford_Prefect]

12. Someone once suggested that the answer to this is to tax the hell out of ammunition.

He had a point I believe.

[AlbertCat]

14. I see the "carry a gun anywhere and everywhere" laws are working great!

You have the right to stand your ground and vigorously defend your bruised ego!

Got yelled at because you rear ended someone? How embarrassing! Releasing a hail of bullets will make you feel better!

[vkkv]

15. Hummers and guns make America great !! It's CALLED Freedom!!

Too many idiots in the U.S.A.! are gullible to the words of other idiots' agendas..

Yes, we HAVE met the enemy...

[tabasco]

17. Thank god a member of the well-regulated militia was present

and had a gun to keep everybody safe!

[DisgustipatedinCA]

19. Maybe they'll let him hang a poster of his Hummer in his cell for the rest of his life.

And maybe they won't. Go show the other inmates how tough you are, Big Man. And don't forget to keep showing them how tough you are every 20 years or so. Finally, please remember to die in prison--your corpse will be paroled once you've completed this step.

[Baclava]

20. Suspect arrested in death of Saints defensive end Will Smith

Cardell Hayes, 28, was arrested on a charge of second-degree murder in Smith's death...police said Hayes was the driver of a Humvee H2



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

[pbmus]

21. Heh Bubba ...

[Calista241]

22. The driver was a convicted felon, and thus banned from owning guns.

[groundloop]

23. I'm sure that will make Will's family feel better

When the hell are we going to tighten up all the loopholes which make it so easy to purchase weapons?

[TexasMommaWithAHat]

31. A much loved player.

New Orleans folks really love their football players - on and off the field. He was a great player. Check out some videos if there are any on youtube.

I wish his family peace, and I pray the piece of trash that shot him spends the rest of his life in Angola.