Dennis "D.J." Hernandez, the older brother of the late Aaron Hernandez, has been arrested by Bristol Police, who claim he may have been planning school shootings at UConn and Brown University.
In documents obtained by TMZ Sports, Bristol Police allege that D.J. had been acting erratically, showing signs of being "gravely disabled and a danger to society."
Several people close to D.J. had allegedly come forward in early July, informing the police that the former UConn player had been sending them disturbing text messages, including one that read: "we're taking lives if shit 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 had also combed through D.J.'s social media channels and noted other alarming language, including a post on July 19 that read: "Will I kill? Absolutely, I've warned my enemies so pay up front."
Additionally, an ex-girlfriend told police that D.J. had used her car to go to a scheduled July 7 court date for a previous arrest, but instead when to Brown and UConn and visited "a number of classrooms and buildings." Another person informed police they believed he made those trips to plan mass shootings.
Bristol Police moved to arrest the elder Hernandez brother on July 19, but an intense standoff ensued at his residence upon their arrival. D.J. warned police he was "on foot, armed" and told police that if they approached him he would kill them all. D.J. exited the home a short time later, but cops became distressed when he "began advancing towards the police with his hands outstretched to his side."
He "disregarded numerous police commands" and allegedly "began yelling shoot me," before being tasered and detained. D.J. was sent to a local hospital for evaluation, where he continued to threaten the lives of the employees, saying he'd kill "anyone who profited off of his brother Aaron." He also mentioned ESPN.
D.J. was ultimately released from the hospital and taken into the Bristol Police Department, where he was booked on charges of threatening and breach of peace. He was held on a $250,000 bond, and is due in court next week.
This unfortunately isn't D.J.'s first run in with the law. He was previously arrested earlier this year after he allegedly threw a brick at ESPN’s headquarters in Bristol, Connecticut. According to TMZ, the brick that Hernandez threw was in a plastic bag that also contained a handwritten note.
“To all media outlets,” the letter read, according to authorities. “It’s about time you all realeyes [sic] 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!” The note continued, “Yours truly, Dennis J. Hernandez.”
