WASHINGTON (TND) — The older brother of Aaron Hernandez has been arrested after police say there were concerns he was planning school shootings, according to TMZ Sports.
Documents from the Bristol Police Departmentin Connecticut report Dennis D.J. Hernandez, 37, displayed signs of being "gravely disabled and a danger to society."
In early July, police said several people came forward claiming D.J. had been acting erratically and sending alarming text messages with one allegedly saying "we're taking lives if s*** isn't paid up. It's been years in planning just taking notes, names and locations. They talked their way into this and it's almost point game."
Police also noted a woman claiming to be his ex said he used her car to drive to Brown University and UConn instead of going to his scheduled July 7 court date.
She told police he "went into a number of classrooms and buildings."
Another person reported to police that they believed D.J. had traveled to the campuses to plan school shootings.
On July 19, police said he posted messages with threatening language on social media saying, "Will I kill? Absolutely, I've warned my enemies so pay up front."
Police reportedly showed up at a home he was at and tried to get him out of the home before a standoff began.
While negotiating, D.J. told police he was "on foot, armed and that if we approached him, he would kill us all," according to reports.
D.J. exited the home a short time later and began asking police to shoot him before being tasered to the ground and taken to a hospital for evaluation, police said.
While at the hospital, he reportedly continued to make threats saying he would kill "anyone who profited off of his brother Aaron."
After being released from the hospital he was taken into custody by the Bristol Police Department and booked on charges of threatening and breach of peace. He was held on a bond of $250,000.
His court hearing is scheduled in the coming weeks.
D.J. was also arrested in March after police said he went to ESPN in a car and threw a bag containing a brick and a note over the fence and onto the property before leaving.
The note said: “To all media outlets, It’s about time you all realeyes the affect media has on all family members. Since you’re a world wide leader maybe you could lead how media and messages are delivered brick by brick. Clean it up! Yours truly, Dennis J. Hernandez,” according to police.
His younger brother, who was a tight end for the Patriots, killed himself in 2017 in a prison cell while serving a murder sentence.
Brown University released the following statement about the alleged plan:
"DJ Hernandez served as quarterbacks coach for Brown’s football team for one season more than a decade ago, in the 2011-12 academic year. On July 18, 2023, officers from the Bristol Police Department in Connecticut alerted Brown’s Department of Public Safety to alleged threats by Hernandez that referenced multiple schools. Brown Police implemented protective measures immediately and remained in contact with police in Connecticut, who arrested the suspect shortly thereafter. Despite reports of an alleged visit to Providence, our investigation to date indicates that Hernandez has not been on Brown’s campus in recent weeks. Given the nature of the alleged threats, we remain in contact with law enforcement partners in Connecticut taking the lead on the investigation."
Editor's note: The Associated Press contributed to this article.
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