Cardell Hayes has been found guilty of manslaughter by a jury for the 2016 death of former New Orleans Saints defensive end Will Smith.

Per Jillian Kramer of the New Orleans Times-Picayune, the jury returned the verdict after midnight local time on Saturday.

The 36-year-old Hayes faces up to 40 years in prison when he is formally sentenced by Orleans Parish Criminal District Court Judge Camille Buras. The jury acquitted him on charges of attempted manslaughter for allegedly shooting and injuring Smith's wife, Racquel.

Smith was shot and killed at the scene of a car crash on April 9, 2016. The situation began when Smith lightly rear-ended Hayes' vehicle.

Per Yahoo Sports' Dan Wetzel, surveillance footage showed Hayes pull over his car expecting to sort things out:

"Instead, Smith drove off, perhaps because he had a blood alcohol level of 0.24, triple the legal limit.

"Hayes, who was sober, followed in pursuit, eventually smashing into Smith's car. Both men and their companions got out. Chaos ensued. Fists flew. Hayes said he believed Smith was headed back to his car to get a firearm, so he unloaded his gun into the retired player. Smith's wife, Racquel, was also struck and faced lengthy rehab."

Hayes was originally charged with second-degree murder and attempted second-degree murder, but a split jury convicted him of lesser charges of manslaughter and attempted manslaughter in December 2016.

Kramer noted Hayes' original conviction was thrown out when the United States Supreme Court ruled non-unanimous jury verdicts were outlawed, and he was released on bond four years into a 25-year prison sentence.

During the trial this week, according to Kramer, nearly a dozen witnesses testified to support claims that Hayes intentionally hit Smith's SUV, which led to the argument and shooting.

Smith played 10 seasons in the NFL from 2004 to '13. He was a member of the Saints' team that won the Super Bowl in 2009. The Saints posthumously inducted Smith into their Ring of Honor during the 2019 season.