NEW ORLEANS (WGNO) – Jury selection will get underway Monday for the man who shot and killed former New Orleans Saint Will Smith, kicking off a long-awaited trial.

Back in April, police say Smith bumped his Mercedes SUV into Cardell Hayes’ Hummer on Magazine Street in New Orleans’ Lower Garden District neighborhood.

They say Hayes then followed Smith and crashed into the back of Smith’s SUV, just blocks away on Felicity Street.

A confrontation led Hayes to shoot Smith eight times, killing him.  Smith’s wife Racquel was also shot in the incident and injured.

Hayes stayed on scene until police arrived and has cooperated fully with authorities.  Hayes’ attorney maintains his client fired in self defense.

Police later discovered Smith did have a gun inside of his SUV, however it was never fired during the altercation.

Hayes is facing charges of second degree murder and attempted second degree murder.