The Latest: In Saints' black, gold, fans pay homage to Smith

METAIRIE, La. (AP) The Latest on the shooting death of former New Orleans Saints' defensive end Will Smith (all times local):

5:00 p.m.

The lawyer for a man accused of fatally shooting former New Orleans Saints football star Will Smith is demanding the New Orleans Police Department recuse itself from the investigation.

In a letter delivered Friday to Mayor Mitch Landrieu and police Superintendent Michael Harrison, lawyer John Fuller charges that the investigation should be handed over to state police or the FBI due ''to a grave lack of faith in the honesty and competency'' of the department's investigation.

Fuller is representing 28-year-old Cardell Hayes, who police say shot and killed Smith after a traffic altercation. Hayes is currently being held in jail.

Fuller charges that high-ranking police officials have made ''factual misstatements.''

Police spokesman Tyler Gamble said the homicide was getting a ''fair, thorough and complete'' investigation. He added that police ''will continue to follow the facts wherever they take us.''

Maj. Doug Cain, a state police spokesman, says his agency has not been asked to take over the probe.

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3:25 p.m.

Fans of slain defensive end Will Smith are paying homage to the former New Orleans Saints football star.

Hundreds of fans in their black and gold jerseys gathered Friday to a visitation held at the Saints' practice facility at a suburb of New Orleans.

Smith was shot and killed a week ago after a traffic altercation. Twenty-eight-year-old Cardell Hayes has been arrested in his death.

Fans filed past photos of Smith and stood in front of the silver casket, which was covered with a bouquet of white flowers.

Many members of the Saints organization, including coach Sean Payton, attended the visitation.

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6:30 a.m.

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.