Will Smith, the former New Orleans Saints defensive end who was fatally shot April 9, was drunk at the time he was killed, according to a report published Tuesday by The Times-Picayune.
Smith’s blood alcohol level reportedly was severely over the legal limit, two sources with knowledge of the investigation told The Times-Picayune. One source reportedly said the toxicology results revealed the 34-year-old’s blood alcohol content to be 0.24 percent, three times the legal limit of 0.08 percent.
The toxicology results haven’t been made public, and Peter Thomson, an attorney for the Smith family, reportedly did not immediately return messages Tuesday. However, Thomson previously said that Smith was not “inebriated to the point” of being unable to drive.
Smith was driving just before he was shot eight times — seven times in the back and once in the chest — and a surveillance video shows his car appearing to rear-end a car belonging to Cardell Hayes, who since has been indicted on a second-degree murder charge for allegedly killing Smith.
Smith had a loaded handgun in his car the night he was shot, according to police, though authorities said last month there were no indications that his gun was fired the night of the deadly incident. Thomson reportedly has said Smith never took his gun out of the vehicle during the altercation.
Thumbnail photo via Derick E. Hingle/USA TODAY Sports Images
