Before Shooting, Will Smith Had Dinner With The Former Cop Cardell Hayes Sued For Killing His Father

On December 26, 2005, Anthony Hayes, 38, was pepper-sprayed and shot nine times by police while brandishing a knife near the intersection of St. Charles and Felicity Street in New Orleans. He was reportedly mentally ill and the father of Cardell Hayes, who was 18 years old at the time.

In 2011 Cardell Hayes and his family won a settlement from the city in the unjust shooting of his father. The original lawsuit sought $4 million, the city offered $80,000 each to Hayes and his sister, they countered with $125,000 each. The suit was settled for an undisclosed amount five days before they were set to go to trial. 

Lt. William Ceravolo, now retired, was one of the officers named in the lawsuit regarding the elder Hayes’ death. In an interesting turn of events, Ceravolo happened to be dining with Will Smith and former Saints running back Pierre Thomas, shortly before Smith was gunned down by Cardell Hayes on Saturday evening. There had also been photos of the group having dinner posted to social media that evening.

Ceravolo, who was at the hospital with Smith’s wife on Sunday, could not be reached for comment. Cardell Hayes, 28, is facing second-degree murder charges.

Will Smith seemed like someone very beloved to the New Orleans community. It doesn’t seem like the court of law, or the court of public opinion will work in Cardell Hayes’ favor. 

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