NFL running back Pierre Thomas says he'll be forever scarred after watching his close friend, Will Smith, get shot to death in New Orleans ... saying, "ufeffThese images that I have in my head will never leave me."
Thomas was at the scene when Smith got into it with Cardell Hayes -- and says the whole thing erupted after a "f**king fender bender" ... not a revenge plot as some speculated.
Here's Pierre's post in its entirety:
"The last few days has been a whirlwind and I am still trying to wrap my head around this whole thing.