Ex-Saint Will Smith Shot To Death In New Orleans

Former Saint Will Smith was shot to death in New Orleans on Saturday. (Photo: Derick E. Hingle, USA Today Sports)

April 10, 2016
Peter Solari Follow @4PeteSakeNY
 

Nola.com is reporting that former New Orleans Saints defensive end Will Smith, was shot to death during a traffic altercation in New Orleans Saturday night. Smith was 34.

The New Orleans Police Department told NOLA.com that Smith and his wife were driving in the city's Lower Garden District around 11:30 P.M., when their Mercedes SUV was rear-ended by a Hummer H2, causing it to collide with a third vehicle. Smith and the driver of the Hummer then, "exchanged words, at which time the driver of the Hummer produced a handgun and shot the male victim multiple times, and his 34-year-old wife twice in the leg," according to NOPD spokesman Juan Barnes.

Smith was pronounced dead at the scene. His wife was taken to the hospital. Police took the 30-year-old driver of the Hummer into custody and recovered the gun used. 

Will Smith's former Saints teammate Pierre Thomas (right) at the scene of Saturday night's shooting in New Orleans. (Photo: NOLA.com)

Smith spent his entire NFL career with the Saints, and accumulated 67.5 sacks, 2 interceptions, 1 safety and 324 tackles over nine seasons between 2004 and 2012. He was a member of the franchise's 2009 team which won Super Bowl XLIV in Miami, but was perhaps best known for his role in the bountygate scandal that plagued the Saints in 2012. Smith was originally suspended for the first four games of that season, however, that was later overturned and he started all 16 games, recording 6 sacks and 58 tackles.

He missed all of 2013 after tearing an ACL in the preseason and was released after the season. He signed with the New England Patriots in May of 2014, but was released before the season started, and never played another game in the NFL. 

Will Smith (91) follows Tracy Porter (22) after Porter's Super Bowl clinching interception in 2010. (Photo: Unsportsmanlike Conduct)

Smith was born in Queens, NY and raised upstate in Utica. He was a USA Today All-American at Proctor High School in Utica, and played his college ball at Ohio State, where he was part of the Buckeyes' 2002 national championship team. In 2003, Smith was a first team All-American and was named Big Ten Defensive Player of the Year. The following spring, the Saints selected him with the 18th overall pick in the NFL Draft. 

Smith is survived by his wife, Racquel, and their two children. He also had a third child from a previous relationship.