"Our thoughts and prayers are with Will and his wife Racquel, but more importantly with their children, William, Wynter and Lisa who are suffering and just starting to realize and deal with an unimaginable loss. We are devastated and saddened by Will's tragic and preventable death due to a senseless act that will leave a lasting scar on our community forever. Will was more than an exceptional football player he was a father, a husband, a son, a brother and teammate to so many and an inspiration to countless more. He will be greatly missed by all those he touched and impacted both on and off the football field and his legacy will continue to shine. The Saints family is hurting and devastated as it has lost a member too young and too soon." - Tom and Gayle Benson and the entire New Orleans Saints Organization
It is surreal. The guy who was part of the 2009 Saints team that won it all and was a dominant force up front is gone. One of the infamous well-known New Orleans former defensive player, 34-year-old Will Smith, was killed. He was shot multiple times around 11:29 p.m. in Lower Garden District in New Orleans on April 9, 2016. His wife, Racquel Smith, was with him and is currently injured in the hospital from getting shot twice in the leg. According to the police, it was an apparent case of road rage when Smith's SUV collided with another vehicle. The driver of another vehicle pulled out a handgun and shot in Smith's SUV, hurting Smith and Racquel. The suspect Cardell A. Hayes, 28, stayed and was arrested on a second-degree murder charge.
Will Smith was born on July 4, 1981 in Queens, New York. He was raised in Utica, New York. His parents are William and Lisa Smith. When he was at Proctor High School, he was a USA Today All-American pick and was rated as the best defensive line by Prep Football Report. By the time he was a senior in Proctor High School, he had 20 sacks. He went to college in Ohio State, played in Ohio State Buckeyes football and was drafted into the NFL as the 18th overall pick in the first round. He played for the New Orleans Saints from 2004-2013 and then went to play for the New England Patriots in 2014. His career highlights were Super Bowl Champion XLIV and Pro Bowler in 2006. The total of his career NFL statistics are: 457 tackles, 67.5 quarterback sacks and two interceptions.
In his personal life, Will Smith was married to Racquel at the Ritz Carlton in New Orleans in 2008 and have three children together: Wynter Chase Smith, William J. Smith and Lisa Mya Smith.
It was an unfortunate event that could have been prevented. It is a sad day for the city of New Orleans, Who Dat nation and professional football because we are more than just a fan base, we are a family. We will never forget his role with the Saints organization and his impact on that city. He will be dearly missed by us all.
His legacy will live on forever.
