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Will Smith, a former defensive end for the New Orleans Saints, and his wife, Racquel Smith, were married in 2008 at the Ritz Carlton in New Orleans. The couple had three children together: Wynter Chase Smith, William J. Smith, and Lisa Mya Smith. Tragically, Will was killed in April 2016 in what was reported as a road rage incident. Racquel was with him at the time and was shot twice in the legs, requiring hospitalization.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Couple | Will Smith and Racquel Smith |
| Date | 2008 |
| Location | Ritz Carlton, New Orleans |
| Children | Wynter Chase Smith, William J. Smith, and Lisa Mya Smith |
| Profession | Will Smith: NFL player, former defensive end for the New Orleans Saints |
| Racquel Smith: NA | |
| Age | Will Smith: 34 |
| Racquel Smith: 34 |
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What You'll Learn
Will and Racquel Smith's wedding date and location
Will and Racquel Smith's wedding took place in 2008. The couple tied the knot at the Ritz Carlton in New Orleans. The wedding was held the same year Will Smith signed a seven-year, $63 million contract extension with the New Orleans Saints, where he played as a defensive end.
The couple had three children: Wynter Chase Smith, William J. Smith, and Lisa Mya Smith. Some sources claim that one of Will Smith's children is from a previous relationship, while others state that all three children are Racquel and Will's.
Tragically, Will Smith was killed in a road rage incident in New Orleans in April 2016. Racquel was also shot twice in the legs and had to be hospitalised. The couple was driving home after having dinner at Sake Cafe when their Mercedes Benz SUV was rear-ended by a Hummer H2. After the collision, Smith hit a Chevrolet Impala, and an argument ensued between him and the driver of the Hummer, Cardell Hayes. Hayes then shot Will multiple times and shot Racquel in the leg.
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Will Smith's career
Will Smith is a rapper, actor, producer, writer, and composer. Smith first gained recognition as part of a hip-hop duo with DJ Jazzy Jeff, with whom he released five studio albums from 1985 to 1994. Their songs "Parents Just Don't Understand" and "Summertime" gained critical acclaim and won the first Grammy awarded in the Rap category in 1988.
Smith's debut solo album, "Big Willie Style" (1997), is among the best-selling rap albums of all time. It reached the top ten of the U.S. Billboard 200 and was certified nine times platinum by the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA). He has since released three more solo albums: "Willennium" (1999), "Born to Reign" (2002), and "Lost and Found" (2005).
Smith's acting career began when he starred as a fictionalized version of himself in the NBC sitcom "The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air" (1990-1996). The show was a success and is considered a watershed moment for Hip-Hop and Black television. Smith was nominated for a Golden Globe for his role in 1993 and 1994. He went on to achieve wider fame as a leading man in the film franchises "Bad Boys" (1995-2024) and "Men in Black" (1997-2012).
Smith has since starred in numerous other films, including "Enemy of the State" (1998), "Wild Wild West" (1999), "I Am Legend", "Suicide Squad", and "Collateral Beauty". He has also produced, written, and composed for several films.
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Racquel Smith's biography
Racquel Smith is the widow of former Saints player Will Smith. She was born in Louisiana and graduated from the University of Louisiana at Lafayette. Racquel and Will were married in 2008 at the Ritz Carlton in New Orleans. They have three children: Wynter Chase Smith, William J. Smith, and Lisa Mya Smith.
On April 9, 2016, Racquel and Will were involved in a traffic incident while driving home from dinner. Their Mercedes Benz SUV was rear-ended by a Hummer, after which Will and the driver of the Hummer exchanged words. The driver of the Hummer then shot Will multiple times and shot Racquel in the leg. Will Smith was killed, and Racquel was hospitalized with severe nerve damage in her left leg and a broken femur bone.
Racquel gave emotional testimony about the night of the shooting, describing her role as her husband's "voice." She also spoke publicly for the first time since her husband's death at his New Orleans Saints Hall of Fame induction ceremony, where she was flanked by their three children. Racquel has since stated that she has been harassed by the shooter's supporters on social media, and that her children are afraid of him.
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The couple's children
Will and Racquel Smith have three children: Wynter Chase Smith, William J. Smith, and Lisa Mya Smith. Some sources say that one of Will Smith's children is from a previous relationship, while others say all three children are Racquel and Will's. Racquel is a proud mother who often shares happy posts about her children on Twitter and Instagram. She proudly shares their accomplishments, such as when they appear in school plays or are part of a basketball team. She always leaves excited comments about their latest achievements.
On the night of Will Smith's death, Racquel was also shot twice in the legs. She had to learn to walk again and suffered severe nerve damage in her left leg and a broken femur bone. Despite the unimaginable aftermath, Racquel knew she had to stay strong for her three children. She moved them out of Louisiana, but they missed their home and their father. Racquel recalled a heartbreaking moment when her son asked her through tears, "Mommy, where's Daddy?" She told him, "Daddy is a Saint in heaven," to which he replied, "Mommy, I'll protect you forever."
Racquel's love for her children was evident even before the tragedy. During the incident that led to Will Smith's death, Racquel pleaded with Will and the other men involved to think about the children. She testified, "I was like, 'Sir, please, we're not like this.' I was saying, 'We have kids, we're not like this. This is Will Smith, we can take care of this.' I looked at [Will] and said, 'Think about [the kids]. It's not worth it.' And he walked away with me." Unfortunately, the situation escalated, and Racquel and Will were shot.
Racquel and Will's children have experienced the unimaginable loss of their father and have had to adjust to a new life outside of their home state. Racquel's love and dedication to her children shine through in her efforts to protect them and provide for them, even in the most challenging circumstances.
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Will and Racquel Smith murder case
On April 9, 2016, Will Smith, a former defensive end for the New Orleans Saints, was shot and killed in what is believed to have been a road rage incident. Smith's wife, Racquel, was with him at the time and was shot in both legs. She survived, but suffered severe nerve damage in her left leg and a broken femur bone. The couple had three children together.
The shooting took place around 11:30 pm near Sophie Wright and Felicity Streets in New Orleans. Smith and Racquel had been dining at Sake Cafe with former Saints running back Pierre Thomas and former New Orleans Police officer Billy Ceravolo. After dinner, their Mercedes Benz SUV was rear-ended by a Hummer H2. Smith then hit a Chevrolet Impala.
An argument ensued between Smith and the driver of the Hummer, later identified as 28-year-old Cardell Hayes. During the argument, Racquel pleaded with Hayes, saying, "We have kids, we're not like this. This is Will Smith, we can take care of this." As the couple began walking back to their vehicle, Hayes opened fire, shooting Smith multiple times and Racquel once in each leg. Smith was found unconscious over the steering wheel and was pronounced dead at the scene.
Hayes, a former football star and extra in the movie "22 Jump Street," was indicted on a second-degree murder charge for the shooting of Smith and an attempted second-degree murder charge for shooting Racquel. He pleaded not guilty to all counts. During the trial, it was revealed that Hayes had a second-hand connection to Smith through Ceravolo, who Hayes had named in a multi-million-dollar lawsuit over the shooting death of his father.
Hayes claimed that he acted in self-defense and that Smith had been the aggressor. However, prosecutors argued that Smith's loaded gun remained untouched inside his car, and no other witness claimed that Smith was armed. Racquel, in her testimony, stated that her husband was not aggressive and did not make any physical contact with Hayes. She also described the events of that night, including the drinks Smith had consumed throughout the day.
Following the trial, Hayes was convicted of manslaughter and attempted manslaughter. However, he was later retried on reduced charges after the US Supreme Court ruled that non-unanimous jury verdicts were unconstitutional. At the second trial, Hayes was acquitted of Racquel's attempted manslaughter but found guilty of manslaughter.
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Frequently asked questions
Will and Racquel Smith got married in 2008 at the Ritz Carlton in New Orleans.
They have three children: William, Lisa, and Wynter.
Will Smith was shot and killed in New Orleans on April 9, 2016. The motive for the shooting is believed to be road rage.
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