Massachusetts State Police officials issued an arrest warrant early Friday morning for Aarón Hernández, star receiver of the New England Patriots, in connection to an execution-style murder that took place earlier this week.
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While Hernández was never eliminated as a suspect in the murder of Odin Lloyd, a 27-year-old semiprofessional football player who was dating the aunt of the Patriot star's daughter, police felt they had enough to issue the warrant Friday after discovering that Hernandez destroyed his cell phone and home security system. The warrant - issued for obstruction of justice - is a clear indication that local police clearly have details about the murder of Lloyd they want to discuss with the football star.
ESPN reported early Friday morning that Hernandez reported to the New England Patriots facility outside of Boston on Thursday but was asked to leave by team officials shortly after his arrival. Patriots spokesman Stacey James told the Boston Herald that he wasn't expecting Hernandez to come to Gillette Stadium since no members of the coaching staff were on property Thursday afternoon. With news surfacing that an arrest warrant has in fact been issued, the receiver has not been seen at his house at any point on Friday.
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The body of Odin Lloyd was found shot in the back of the head earlier this week near Hernández's North Attleborough, Massachusetts home. Surveillance from the North Attleborough community clearly shows Hernandez and Lloyd together with 2 other individuals mere hours before the 27-year-old's death. In addition to the released video footage, ABC News is reporting that police officials also want to find out why a band of house cleaners were hired on Monday to clean and scrub the 23-year-old Connecticut native's home.
Not wanting to make any official claim on the current status of Hernández and his potential involvement in the crime, attorney Michael Fee said Thursday that both he and Hernández will remain quiet until they're asked to speak with the proper authorities.
"It has been widely reported in the media that the state police have searched the home of our client, Aarón Hernández, as part of an ongoing investigation," attorney Michael Fee said in a statement Thursday. "Out of respect for that process, neither we nor Aaron will have any comment about the substance of that investigation until it has come to a conclusion."
A former coach of Hernández at the University of Florida told Sports Illustrated recently that while the tight end is an intelligent and kind person, the UF coaching staff would worry when Hernandez returned home to Connecticut to visit friends and family because many of the people he associated with were bad influences on the young college student. The former coach also attributes some of the football player's off the field issues to the passing of his father, noting that his passing coupled with poor friend selection most likely slowed his maturation process on and off the football field.
"There were always people that were trying to surround themselves with him that weren't in his best interest and they were around him," his former Gator coach said to Sports Illustrated. "For him, it's like anything else. He's a good-hearted kid who had a hard time saying no. He's a lovable kid. He's always welcome in my house and he's always called my kids and talked to them. He's a great kid, but since his father passed away the maturity part has been a little bit of a struggle."
In 3 seasons with the Patriots, the former University of Florida standout has a total of 175 receptions for 1,956 yards and 18 touchdowns. Targeted a total of 261 times by quarterback Tom Brady in his early career, Hernandez has proven to be a reliable weapon with his ability to play multiple positions. The current investigation and now issued arrest warrant certainly won't help the players career but football aside, Aarón Hernández has a much bigger issue to deal with.
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WATCH A REPORT ON THE ISSUED ARREST WARRANT
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