The troubled older brother of convicted murderer Aaron Hernandez has avoided prison time after threatening to carry out chilling mass shootings plots at two universities.
Dennis ‘DJ’ Hernandez, 38, walked free from court on Friday after a judge sentenced him to just roughly 18 months of time already served, the US Attorney’s Office announced in a press release.
Additionally, he will serve just three years of supervised release for making interstate threats, after his disturbing plans to shoot up schools.
The disgraced brother of the former NFL star, who hanged himself in prison while serving life for murder, will continue mental health and substance abuse treatment.
His electronic devices will be closely monitored by probation officers watching his every move.
Authorities have also banned Hernandez from setting foot on the University of Connecticut campus or any other locations he threatened in his terrifying messages.
The elder Hernandez sibling pleaded guilty in December 2024 to sending interstate threats to carry out the attacks.
Dennis Hernandez, the brother of the late New England Patriots tight end Aaron Hernandez, stands with his public defender Sandra Crowell during his arraignment, August 1, 2023, at Connecticut Superior Court in New Britain, Conn
The troubled older brother of convicted murderer Aaron Hernandez has avoided prison time after threatening to carry out chilling mass shootings plots at two universities
According to court documents, Hernandez communicated with an individual via Facebook Messenger and made multiple statements threatening to carry out a shooting at University of Connecticut, the press release reads.
The statements included ‘I would recommend remaining away from there because when I go I’m taking down everything And don’t give a f*** who gets caught in the crossfire.’
‘I’ve died for years now and now it’s others people turn. I’m prepared to give my life. So if I don’t get to see you on the outside know I love you always Not all shootings are bad I’m realizing. Some are necessary for change to happen.’
His car was located on UConn’s campus on July 7, 2023, court documents allege.
Then on July 18 and 19, 2023, Hernandez reportedly made multiple Facebook posts ‘threatening to harm or kill three individuals who reside out of state, including a state court judge.’
The disgraced brother of the former NFL star (left), who hanged himself in prison while serving life for murder, will continue mental health and substance abuse treatment
Hernandez told one of the victims via text message that: ‘We’re taking lives if s**** isn’t paid up,’ the press release continued.
‘It’s been years in planning just taking notes, names and locations. They talked their way into this and it’s almost point game. I know we don’t play in my family. If we have to take lives or buildings we will. So just letting you know so you can be prepared for a media circus one way or another.’
Authorities said Hernandez was angry with people he believed were profiting from the death of his younger brother. Aaron Hernandez killed himself in 2017 while serving a murder sentence.
A former Bristol Central High and University of Florida star, Aaron was a star tight end for the New England Patriots before 2013, when he was first charged with murdering his friend Odin Lloyd.
Aaron had been acquitted of most charges in a separate double murder case just a few days before his 2017 death.
After his death, doctors found Hernandez had advanced chronic traumatic encephalopathy, a degenerative brain disease linked to head trauma.
A former Bristol Central High and University of Florida star, Aaron was a star tight end for the New England Patriots before 2013, when he was first charged with murdering his friend Odin Lloyd
The disease, which can be diagnosed only after death, has been found in more than 100 former NFL players and in dozens more athletes and members of the military who have been exposed to repetitive head trauma. The disease can lead to memory loss, depression and suicide.
Aaron Hernandez also suffered from paranoia in addition to his well-documented drug problems.
