Late Saturday night, former Saints defensive end Will Smith was fatally shot after an apparent road rage incident in New Orleans. According to authorities, Smith was pronounced dead on the scene after being shot multiple times. His wife, Racquel Smith, was transported to a hospital after being shot twice in the right leg.
There has been an overwhelming outpouring of sympathy and support for Smith's family in the hours since the news broke:
Mourning the loss of a great friend and teammate, Will Smith. Such a senseless tragedy. Please pray for Racquel and their children.
— Drew Brees (@drewbrees) April 10, 2016
RIP Will Smith may the lord have mercy on your soul at the gates of heaven you were a great man... https://t.co/nuuDvniqDc
— Reggie Bush (@ReggieBush) April 10, 2016
Condolences to the Will Smith family, the New Orleans Saints, & Ohio State. Praying for his beautiful children. #LoveNotHate 🙏🏾
— Russell Wilson (@DangeRussWilson) April 10, 2016
Prayers and condolence sent out to Will Smith #RIP and his beautiful family! So sad man. Good dude he was man!
— LeBron James (@KingJames) April 10, 2016
Devastated. Lord please be with the Smith family at this tragic time. Nonsense man...
— Mark Ingram II (@MarkIngram22) April 10, 2016
Hearing the news of Will Smith is heart breaking. Lord please be with this family during this difficult time.
— Cj Spiller (@CJSPILLER) April 10, 2016
#ripwillsmith 🙏🏾 Prayers for Will and his family. Senseless to say the least!!!
— Michael Strahan (@michaelstrahan) April 10, 2016
To the leader and the man who showed me the ropes when I got in, the big bro to me when I was a... https://t.co/Howyx740su
— cameron jordan (@camjordan94) April 10, 2016
Our thoughts and prayers go out to the family and friends of Will Smith and the entire @Saints organization.
— Carolina Panthers (@Panthers) April 10, 2016
Pray for my friend's family, pray for his teammates. So senseless.
— deuce mcallister (@dmcallister26) April 10, 2016
Rest in peace Will
Our thoughts and prayers are with the family, friends and teammates of Will Smith. #NFLFamily
— Tennessee Titans (@Titans) April 10, 2016
Praying for my former teammate Will Smith's family as well as his wife's recovery and the kids. A father a husband gone over nonsense
— rafael bush (@rbush36) April 10, 2016
RIP brother #WillSmith pic.twitter.com/Gmf3YMDCaR
— Jonathan Casillas (@jcasillas52) April 10, 2016
Statement from Saints Executive Vice President/General Manager Mickey Loomis: pic.twitter.com/dbckcU98Lb
— New Orleans Saints (@Saints) April 10, 2016
Senseless and tragic don't come close to capturing my feelings on the @iWillSmith murder. Love you Will.
— Steve Gleason (@TeamGleason) April 10, 2016
-SG pic.twitter.com/pyVqPd1PTe
Love & prayers to the Smith family, Buckeye family & Saints family. Our brother Will--humble, caring, selfless family man. We love you Will.
— Jim Tressel (@JimTressel5) April 10, 2016
Waking up to sad news for our league and family yet again. Praying for the family of Will Smith. Gone too soon. May your soul Rest in Peace!
— Tavon Austin (@Tayaustin01) April 10, 2016
Shocked, crushed, & broken over this. Please pray for the family of my friend & brother Will Smith. Tragic beyond words. Love you, Will.
— Scott Fujita (@sfujita55) April 10, 2016
Heavy Hearts w the senseless passing of our Team Capt. Will Smith. Pray for his wife's recovery and their children. pic.twitter.com/VomR0Sut6M
— Sean Payton (@SeanPayton) April 10, 2016
Heart breaking news at the loss of buckeye great, Will Smith. Buckeye Nation extends our prayers to his family during this difficult time.
— Urban Meyer (@OSUCoachMeyer) April 10, 2016
Our thoughts and prayers go out to former OSU and Saints' Will Smith; his family and teammates. He touched so many lives. Tragic. Shocked
— Mark Dantonio (@DantonioMark) April 10, 2016
Words can't express how much I will miss my teammate and friend Will Smith! With a heavy heart I'm praying hard for his wife and family...
— Malcolm Jenkins (@MalcolmJenkins) April 10, 2016
Horrible News To Wake UP To! SMH
— Tyrod Taylor (@TyrodTaylor) April 10, 2016
RIP Will Smith
So sad to hear about Will Smith this AM As people we have to do better man...Prayers to his family as they go through this tough time 🙏🏿
— Devin&Jason McCourty (@McCourtyTwins) April 10, 2016
A man loses his life over a collision? A wife becomes a widow over a argument? 3 children lose their Daddy over NOTHING!
— Mike McGlynn (@Greezy_75) April 10, 2016
Man... Killed because of a bumper to bumper... Rest easy Will Smith #FootballFamily
— Pat McAfee (@PatMcAfeeShow) April 10, 2016
It's crazy to hear the news about Will Smith. It saddens me to see a senseless act of violence. Pray for the Smith Family. #STOPTHEVIOLENCE
— ANTONIO CROMARTIE (@CRO31) April 10, 2016
Father of 3, husband, and friend to so many. You will be missed dearly, rest easy big bro #RIPWillSmith pic.twitter.com/BBR5elGfVS
— Jerel Worthy (@I_AM_Worthy99) April 10, 2016
I went to sleep last night and woke up to the news about Will Smith. Cherish every min with the ones you love. 🙏🏽 for his children and fam
— DeAngelo Hall (@DeAngeloHall23) April 10, 2016
Another untimely death. My heart is saddened of the news of fmr NO Saints Will Smith. My prayers r with his family and wife who was shot too
— Terrell Owens (@terrellowens) April 10, 2016
Hurt right now. Lord please be with Will Smith's family.
— Darren Sproles (@DarrenSproles) April 10, 2016