National Football League

Fans and former Saints teammates turn out for Will Smith's public memorial

Published Apr. 15, 2016 5:16 p.m. ET

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Hundreds of fans, friends and former teammates gathered Friday at the Saints' training facility in Metairie, La., to mourn former player Will Smith, who was shot and killed in New Orleans last Saturday.

The family will hold a private funeral for Smith on Saturday.

The Saints turned an indoor practice field into a memorial hall devoted to Smith's memory. His casket, adorned with a bouquet of flowers, was placed on a stage at the 50-yard line. Enlarged photos of Smith taken during his career with the Saints hung behind the casket while a video featuring highlights of Smith's career played on screens at the sides of the stage.

A number of former and current Saints players were in attendance, as were head coach Sean Payton and general manager Mickey Loomis. Smith's wife Racquel, who was injured in the shooting, was able to attend in a wheelchair.

Steve Gleason, a former Saints player who was diagnosed with ALS in January 2011, also made it to the memorial. Gleason and Smith were teammates and friends long after Gleason retired, and he paid tribute to Smith on Twitter last weekend and earlier on Friday.

Fans in attendance were able to sign a guestbook, and messages left in a virtual guestbook ran on a screen during the memorial. There was no formal service on the schedule. Instead fans were allowed to walk through the facility to view the casket as well as several lockers adorned with memorabilia from Smith's football career.

A second line — a traditional New Orleans brass band parade — gathered Friday night in the area he was killed. And a fan with a trumpet gave the memorial at the Saints' facility some local flavor by playing "When The Saints Go Marching In" over Smith's casket at the beginning of the visitation hours.

"I came out today because this was a great man. And he did a lot for the city and we got to watch him every Sunday and look up to him," said Lance Ural, from New Orleans, who was wearing a Saints T-shirt as he walked out of the building.

"For something like this to happen it's only right that we pay our respects," he said.

"It broke my heart," said Khantrell Wagner, who lives in the same New Orleans Lower Garden District neighborhood where Smith died. "It just saddens me that this could have been avoided."

Anita Harrison said she had been attending Saints games since 1969 and has been a season-ticket holder since 2000. She admired Smith for his intensity and the way he took rookies under his wing.

"It really didn't hit me until I walked in here today," she said.

Smith, 34, was shot and killed by 28-year-old Cardell Hayes last Saturday, police said. Smith was shot seven times in the back and once along his side, the coroner said. Hayes was arrested and is currently being held on $1 million bond.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.

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