Former New England Patriots player Aaron Hernandez executed his acquaintance Odin L. Lloyd because Hernandez was upset that Lloyd had spoken at a Boston nightclub on June 14 with people Hernandez had troubles with, a prosecutor alleged today.
In a dramatic hearing in Attleboro District Court, the prosecutor said that surveillance videos in Boston, in North Attleborough, and even in Hernandezs own home linked him to the slaying several days later of Lloyd.
Lloyd was shot five times in a North Attleborough industrial park not far from Hernandezs home. He raised his arm as he lay on the ground, in a desperate attempt to fend off the bullets, Bristol County prosecutor William McCauley said.
The prosecutor said Hernandez, who was accompanied by two men, had the means, motive, and opportunity to kill Lloyd and had been the prime mover in the crime. He orchestrated his execution, McCauley said. The prosecutor said Hernandez had spoken of no longer trusting Lloyd.
The identity of Hernandezs two confederates was not disclosed at Hernandezs arraignment.
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McCauley said Hernandez summoned his two friends, then drove to Fayston Street in Bostons Dorchester section early on the morning of Monday, June 17, where Lloyd, a 27-year-old semipro football player, left his home, got in the car, and then rode south to North Attleborough.
Along the way, Lloyd alerted relatives in a text message, asking them, Did you see who I am with? After they asked who, he replied cryptically, NFL, the prosecutor said.
Just so you know, Lloyd added. It was the last text message he sent before he died, McCauley said.
Surveillance cameras in the North Attleborough industrial park where Lloyd was murdered captured the men arriving in the same silver Nissan that Lloyd had gotten into in Dorchester, the prosecutor said.
Once near a wooded area, Lloyd started climbing out of the car, and was shot once, which knocked him to the ground. As he lay there, he raised his arm and was shot multiple times. Five spent .45-caliber spent shell casings were later recovered, McCauley said.
When Hernandez returned home around 3:30 a.m. Monday, surveillance video at his house showed him walking through his house holding a pistol in his hand, the prosecutor said.