The man charged with second-degree murder in the death of former Saints defensive end Will Smith was a high school football star well known to football players in New Orleans.

Cardell Hayes, who was booked this morning for second-degree murder after he allegedly shot and killed Smith following a minor traffic accident, was one of the top prospects in Louisiana during his senior season at Warren Easton High School in New Orleans. There is no immediate word on whether he played college football; his freshman year would have been 2005, when New Orleans was hit by Hurricane Katrina.

Cardinals defensive back Tyrann Mathieu, who also played high school football in New Orleans, wrote on Twitter today that he knew Hayes.

“I know that dude, he been a hating ass coward,” Mathieu wrote. “Never knew he’d grow up to be a killer tho…. May you get what you deserve coward.”

Mathieu also wrote several tweets about the culture in New Orleans, where he says violence is prevalent and opportunities for young people are in short supply.

“Until y’all get them crooks out of office and until y’all give these kids something constructive to do, the violence will continue to grow!” Mathieu wrote. “They can’t go to parks like I was able to, because the grass ain’t cut & the rims have no nets nor do they even have rims. The budgets cutting into education, recreation and everything else that is VITAL to a kid having success. Not to mention half of their fathers are in prison. So this isn’t coming from an angry place but from a person who has made it out! All they have is music to influence them, and if you listen closely to music now a days, it’s brainwashing them to believe drugs and killing are the cool thing to do which is why I’m dropping an album… Cause that s–t ain’t cool, cool is being a father and being able to provide. Cool is facing adversity and having GOD having a place in your heart and world. Cool is handling things like men not like cowards. I’m at peace… I’m going to church to pray for all y’all.”

It is unclear whether Smith, who grew up in New York, knew Hayes. Police have indicated that the shooting could have been a road rage incident after Hayes rear-ended Smith’s car.