Will Smith: Funeral held for slain New Orleans Saints football player
The former New Orleans Saints player was killed last week
WIll Smith, a former NFL player who was shot and killed one week ago, has been laid to rest in New Orleans.
Friends and relatives of Smith, a former defensive end with the New Orleans Saints, held a private service on Saturday at the city's Saenger Theater.
Smith's former teammates and coaches attended the service, according to The Times-Picayune. Smith's former Saints teammates served as pallbearers for the procession.
Smith died a week ago after police said he was shot by 28-year-old Cardell Hayes during a traffic altercation. An investigation is ongoing and Mr Hayes has been detained.
As mourners gathered inside the theatre, a video screen showed snippets of Smith’s famous tackles as well as photos from his life off the field, the Associated Press reported.
Saints head coach Sean Payton and former teammates Jonathan Vilma and Malcolm Jenkins spoke at the service and consoled Smith’s widow, Racquel, who was injured in the shooting last week.
She made her first appearance since the incident on Friday when she took part in a public visitation of Smith’s coffin.