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Police find fully loaded weapon in Smith’s SUV

As the family of Will Smith began preparing to bury him this weekend, the New Orleans Police Department revealed a potentially significant new finding Tuesday in the investigation into the former Saint’s death following a minor, three-vehicle collision Saturday night in the Lower Garden District.

Authorities said Cardell Hayes, the 28-year-old dog breeder and tow truck company owner accused of fatally shooting Smith after hitting his SUV, wasn’t the only person on the scene with potential access to a gun.

Detectives who searched Smith’s Mercedes G63 on Tuesday morning said they found a fully loaded 9 mm handgun inside.