In a New Orleans courtroom on Thursday, Cardell Hayes, the man responsible for the fatal shooting of retired NFL star Will Smith during a car crash confrontation in 2016, was sentenced to 25 years in prison. This marked the second time Hayes faced sentencing for Smith's death, after his previous manslaughter conviction was overturned due to a non-unanimous jury vote.

Judge Camille Buras, in handing down the sentence, acknowledged the support Hayes received from friends and family. However, she highlighted the fact that both Hayes and a companion were armed when they exited the car after the crash, while Smith was unarmed. Smith was tragically shot eight times, seven of which were in the back, during the confrontation that occurred following the collision between Hayes' SUV and Smith's vehicle.

During the court proceedings, Smith's daughter, Lisa, spoke emotionally about the impact of her father's death on her life. She expressed her sorrow over what Hayes had done, stating, "Mr. Hayes, you ruined my life. You took my father away from me." Hayes' mother, Dawn Mumphrey, also expressed sorrow for the loss of Smith, appealing for mercy from the judge.

Hayes maintained his claim of self-defense, arguing that he fired his weapon because he believed Smith had retrieved a gun from his vehicle. However, there was no witness or forensic evidence to support Hayes' claim, and the overturned conviction did not include a conviction for the attempted manslaughter of Smith's wife, Racquel, who was also injured in the incident.

Having served more than four years of the original sentence, Hayes was released on bond and remained free during multiple retrial delays, including those caused by the COVID-19 pandemic. However, following the unanimous guilty verdict in January, he was taken back into custody and has been awaiting sentencing at the New Orleans jail.

Hayes' 25-year prison sentence takes into account the credit for the time he has already served. The specifics of how his strict supervision and home confinement would count towards his sentence are yet to be determined, and Judge Buras stated she would discuss this with prison officials.

Before the sentencing took place, Hayes' family and friends gathered in the courthouse hallway to pray, showing their support for him during this difficult time.

The sentencing of Cardell Hayes for the shooting of Will Smith brings closure to a tragic incident that shook the football community and devastated Smith's family. As the legal process concludes, the focus now turns towards healing and finding solace for those affected by this senseless act of violence.