Surveillance video appears to show moments before ex-Saints DE Will Smith’s fatal shooting

Restaurant surveillance footage captured what appears to be the alleged road rage incident in New Orleans that ended with former Saints defensive end fatally shot.

The video aired Tuesday on ABC’s “Good Morning America” and involves vehicles matching the descriptions of those driven by former Saints player Will Smith and Cardell Hayes minutes before Smith was fatally shot on Saturday. A Mercedes SUV at 11:21 p.m. ET bump the rear of a Hummer, the model of which isn’t entirely evident, around the intersection of Magazine Street and St. Andrew Street. Two blocks away is the site at which Hayes, who was driving a Hummer H2, is accused of shooting and killing Smith around 11:30 p.m. ET. Smith was driving a Mercedes G63.

Hayes, 28, was arrested on a charge of second-degree murder. His bond was set at $1 million. Police said that the handgun used in the shooting has been recovered. Hayes did not enter a plea in his initial court appearance.

At a court hearing on Monday, Hayes’ legal team argued a hit-and-run incident and the presence of a second weapon at the scene preceded Smith’s death.

“Someone hit him,” Fuller said. “The person failed to pull over. My client trailed behind this person in an effort to get their license plate number. My client also called 911.”

Smith’s wife, Raquel, was shot in the right leg. Smith was pronounced dead at the scene after a verbal altercation with Hayes, police said Monday.

The Saints plan a celebration of Smith’s life Friday. Coach Sean Payton had planned to make Smith a coaching intern during training camp beginning in July and said Monday that gun violence is overtaking the city. Payton had railed against weapons before Smith was shot about eight blocks from Payton’s current residence. Payton said he visited the crime scene early Sunday morning.

“I’ve heard people argue that everybody needs a gun. That’s madness,” Payton said in a USA Today interview. “I know there are many kids who grow up in a hunting environment. I get that. But there are places, like England, where even the cops don’t have guns.”

Smith also visited the hospital where Raquel was treated and went home to research the alleged weapon, a .45 caliber.

“It was designed back during World War I. And this thing just stops people. It will kill someone within four or five seconds after they are struck,” Payton said. “You bleed out. After the first shot (that struck Smith’s torso), he took three more in his back.

“Our city is broken … It’s like our big little secret. They don’t want to kill tourism, but right now it’s like the Wild, Wild West here,” Payton said.