Brother of Late Patriots Player Arrested for Planning School Shootings
Dennis DJ Hernandez, the older brother of former New England Patriots player Aaron Hernandez, has been arrested for allegedly planning school shootings at the University of Connecticut and Brown University. The arrest warrant, obtained by News 8, revealed that Bristol police deemed Hernandez gravely disabled and a danger to society.
According to his ex-girlfriend, instead of attending a court appearance, Hernandez drove to Brown University and UConn’s Storrs campus, where he entered several classrooms and buildings to map the schools out. Another individual informed the police that they believed he traveled to the campuses with the intention of planning school shootings.
On July 19, Hernandez posted threatening language on his social media page, indicating, Will I kill? Absolutely. I’ve warned my enemies so pay up front. Bristol police arrived at a residence where Hernandez was believed to be, but he initially refused to come out, declaring that he was armed and would kill the officers if they approached him.
Eventually, Hernandez emerged from the home, walked toward the police with his hands outstretched, and shouted shoot me while disregarding their commands. In response, an officer used a taser to subdue Hernandez, leading to his arrest. He was later taken to the hospital, where he continued making threats, including a mention of killing anyone who profited off his brother’s name.
Hernandez has been charged with threatening and breach of peace and is currently being held on a $250,000 bond. His court appearance is scheduled for August 1.
It is important to note that Aaron Hernandez, the late brother of DJ Hernandez, was a tight end for the New England Patriots who tragically took his own life in prison while serving a murder sentence. DJ Hernandez himself made headlines in March when he was arrested for allegedly throwing a bag containing a brick and a note onto ESPN’s property in Bristol, Connecticut.
The University of Connecticut and Brown University have addressed the alleged threats made by Hernandez. UConn stated that they were aware of the initial information related to his arrest, but at the time, there was no known imminent threat to the campus. Brown University, where Hernandez served as a quarterbacks coach over a decade ago, mentioned that they implemented protective measures immediately upon being alerted to the threats. They also clarified that there is no evidence to suggest Hernandez had been on their campus recently.
This arrest highlights the importance of evaluating and addressing potential threats to ensure the safety of our educational institutions. The police departments involved took swift action in response to the reported threats, demonstrating their commitment to protecting the community.
Please note that all individuals are presumed innocent until proven guilty in a court of law.
