Video shows apparent hit-and-run before Will Smith was shot

Surveillance video shows what appears to be a hit-and-run incident between former New Orleans Saints defensive end Will Smith and Cardell Hayes, who is accused of shooting and killing Smith, moments before Smith was shot.

The video was published by WVUE, the Fox affiliate in New Orleans. ABC’s “Good Morning America” also showed it on Tuesday. In the video, a Mercedes SUV that matches the car driven by Smith appears to hit a Hummer matching the car driven by Hayes. The Hummer matching the one driven by Hayes pulls to the side after apparently being hit by the Mercedes. The Mercedes SUV pulls around the Hummer and drives off. At that point the Hummer follows the Mercedes.

Here’s the video from WVUE:

That video was taken less than 10 minutes after Smith and his wife Racquel left a restaurant at about 11:30 p.m. Saturday night, WVUE said. The vehicles are headed toward Sophie Wright Place and Felicity Street, WVUE said, which is where Smith was shot and killed. Racquel Smith was shot in her leg. The hit-and-run incident in the video is two blocks from where the shooting happened, ABC said.

At Sophie Wright Place and Felicity Street there was a three-car accident after Hayes’ Hummer hit Smith’s Mercedes, according to police. Police said Hayes and Smith exchanged words after that accident. Hayes was arrested and charged with second-degree murder.

John Fuller, Hayes’ lawyer, said his client was not the aggressor in the incident that led to Smith’s death, according to NOLA.com. According to WVUE, Hayes trailed Smith after a hit-and-run incident to get his license plate number, and dialed 911.

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Frank Schwab is the editor of Shutdown Corner on Yahoo Sports. Have a tip? Email him at [email protected] or follow him on Twitter! Follow @YahooSchwab