Fans, friends to pay respects to slain former Saints player

METAIRIE, La. (AP) Fans of former Saints defensive end Will Smith are paying their respects to the fallen sports hero who was shot and killed last Saturday.

A visitation will be held Friday afternoon at the team's practice facility in a New Orleans suburb.

A traditional second-line parade is also set for Friday evening in the same area Smith died.

Police say Smith was shot and killed by 28-year-old Cardell Hayes after a traffic altercation.

The coroner says Smith was shot seven times in the back and once along his side. His wife was shot twice but survived.

Smith played for a Saints' team that traveled like nomads from stadium to stadium after Hurricane Katrina ripped through the Superdome. He was also part of the 2009 team that went to the Superbowl and won.