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Aaron Hernandez was
arrested Wednesday morning at his home in North Attleborough, Mass.,
and charged with first-degree murder later in the day.
Hernandez
charged with murder
espn.com
ATTLEBORO, Mass. -- Aaron Hernandez has been charged with murdering his
friend after the two had a dispute during a trip to a nightclub.
Hernandez was arrested Wednesday and charged with the first-degree
murder of 27-year-old Odin Lloyd, a semi-pro football player whose body
was found in an industrial park about a mile from the former New
England Patriots tight end's home.
Hernandez, who was released by the Patriots less than two hours after
his arrest, pleaded not guilty and has been ordered to be held without
bail. Hernandez also faces five gun-related charges, which were
revealed Wednesday afternoon in Attleboro District Court.
Lloyd's relatives said he was dating the sister of Hernandez's fiancee,
that the two men were friends and that the men were out together on the
last night of Lloyd's life. He was shot multiple times in the back and
chest, authorities said.
In court, prosecutors described a killing borne out of a trip to a
Boston nightclub on the night of June 14.
Hernandez and two friends picked up Lloyd at home at 2:30 a.m. on June
17, prosecutors said. Surveillance footage from Hernandez's home shows
him leaving earlier with a gun. He also told someone in the house that
he was upset and couldn't trust anyone anymore, prosecutors said.
After picking up Lloyd, Hernandez said he was upset with Lloyd because
Lloyd had spoken with people Hernandez had trouble with during their
outing to the nightclub, prosecutors said.
After that conversation, Lloyd texted his sister, "Did you see who I am
with," prosecutors said. When his sister asked who, he answered at 3:22
a.m., "NFL," then, a minute later, "Just so you know," prosecutors said.
Between 3:23 a.m. and 3:27 a.m., people working the overnight shift at
the industrial park reported hearing gunshots, authorities said.
It's not clear who investigators believe fired the shots.
Hernandez's attorney, Michael Fee, asked for bail, saying Hernandez is
not a flight risk, is a homeowner and lives with his fiancee and an
8-month-old baby. He also said Hernandez had never been accused of a
violent crime.
"It is at bottom a circumstantial case. It is not a strong case," Fee
said.
Hernandez was wearing a white V-neck T-shirt, with his arms inside the
shirt and behind his back as he was led from his sprawling North
Attleborough home at approximately 8:45 a.m. Wednesday. He casually
spit into some bushes on his way to a police cruiser.
At about 10:20 a.m. Wednesday morning, the Patriots announced they had
released Hernandez and expressed sympathy to Lloyd's family and friends.
"Words cannot express the disappointment we feel knowing that one of
our players was arrested as a result of this investigation," the
Patriots said in a statement. "We realize that law enforcement
investigations into this matter are ongoing. We support their efforts
and respect the process. At this time, we believe this transaction is
simply the right thing to do."
The NFL also released a statement Wednesday, saying that Hernandez's
arrest is "deeply troubling."
"The involvement of an NFL player in a case of this nature is deeply
troubling," the league's statement said. "The Patriots have released
Aaron Hernandez, who will have his day in court. At the same time, we
should not forget the young man who was the victim in this case and
take this opportunity to extend our deepest sympathy to Odin Lloyd's
family and friends."
The Patriots drafted Hernandez, who is originally from Bristol, Conn.,
out of the University of Florida in 2010. Last summer, the team gave
him a five-year contract worth $40 million.
Hernandez is one of 28 NFL players arrested since this year's Super
Bowl on Feb. 3, according to a database kept by U-T San Diego.
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