“I need an ambulance, my leg has been shot. My leg has been shot,” Racquel is heard screaming out in pain, from what appears to still be the front seat of the couple’s Mercedes where her husband lay dead next to her the in the driver’s seat. Through her wails she can also be head saying what appears to be “My husband…..dead,” before paramedics arrived at the scene to treat her.
Will died after he was shot several times following what’s believed to be a road rage incident involving Cardell Hayes, 28, who was arrested at the scene. In the video, he’s pictured standing calmly while being handcuffed by the first officers who responded to the scene. A witness at the beginning of the video described the altercation, saying “He grabs his gun and shoots him in the back. He’s dead.” The red Hummer that Cardell was driving as well as the couple’s Mercedes SUV that he rear-ended are visible among the chaos.
The couple had a late dinner at the Sake Cafe just before the 11:30 p.m. shooting in New Orleans’ Lower Garden District. Cardell’s Hummer rear-ended Will’s Mercedes, causing that vehicle to rear-end another car, driven by one of Will’s friends. A heated exchange broke out between the men following the collision, then Cardell pulled out a gun and shot Will, who died at the scene. He’s currently being held on $1 million bond in connection with the murder.
Our thoughts go out to Will’s family and friends during this painful time.