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Will Smith's father says he forgives son's killer but won't forget

Chuck Cook / US PRESSWIRE

The father of slain former New Orleans Saints defensive end Will Smith is a forgiving man.

"Do I forgive the gentleman who shot my son? Yes I do. Am I going to forget him? Hell no," Will Smith Sr. told ABC-11 News. "I'm not interested in his trial. Whatever the Lord is going to do to him is what the Lord is going to do."

Smith Jr. was shot to death in a road-rage incident late Saturday night in New Orleans following an alleged fender bender.

Cardell Hayes was arrested and charged with second-degree murder. His lawyer has said that Smith was the aggressor in the situation, but Smith Sr. disagrees with those comments.

"My son got out of his car with a loaded mouth, he did not get out of his car with a gun," said Smith Sr. "This gentleman purposely got out, he never walked back to his car when he was out, never walked back. When my son turned his back, he shot him in the back. Then he walked up on him and shot him again, and then when his wife started yelling we have babies, he shot her.

"Now somebody in public, in society, please tell me where that was not murder."

Smith Sr. admits he hasn't wrapped his head around the reality of his son's death and anticipates a very difficult time at his son's funeral.

"It's going to hit me when I'm in that funeral home, my child in a box," he said.

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