If you thought you had heard the last of the Hernandez family, you would be wrong.
Dennis John “DJ” Hernandez, the brother of the late standout Tight End and convicted murderer Aaron Hernandez and former quarterback and wide receiver at UConn, was arrested last week after those close to him became concerned that he was plotting two mass shootings.
Reports on the arrest have described Dennis telling others, as well as posting on social media, that he was plotting to attack Brown University and the University of Connecticut. Hernandez had also served as the quarterbacks coach at Brown University.
Hernandez was arrested for the fourth time this year last Wednesday after police had become suspicious and grew concerned about the 37-year-old’s erratic behavior. It is believed that Hernandez’s ex-girlfriend informed police that she let him borrow her car to attend a court hearing, and he instead went to the campuses of UConn and Brown University to “map them out.”
Those in contact with him became concerned that he was a threat to public safety. It was their reports, paired with Hernandez’s violent-leaning social media posts, that ended up convincing police that they had enough evidence to bring in Hernandez once again.
One of the online rants that Hernandez went on was included in the arrest warrant, which read:
“UConn program is going to pay unless I have a package deal and I get my estate and every single thing I have worked for. The coaches and university officials want to be selfish and selective about sh*t, well I am too. Very.
They are going to get surprised. Love you, I would recommend remaining away from there because when I go I’m taking down everything and I don’t give a sh*t who gets caught in the crossfire. I’ve died for (years) now and now its others peoples 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.”
That statement, along with the rest of the mounting evidence that pointed towards Dennis Hernandez and his planned school shootings, led the Bristol Police Department to charge him with second-degree breach of peace and physical threats.
The police department reportedly approached Hernandez’s home with a large amount of officers in the case that he was armed and dangerous, and because of his history of fleeing police in his prior arrests. Hernandez apparently exited his Connecticut home under his own power and was asking police officers to shoot him before he was subdued with a taser and taken into custody.
While on his way to jail, Hernandez reportedly told police he planned to kill anyone who profited off his younger brother.
He is now being held by the Department of Correction on a $250,000 bond.
Hernandez’s first arrest in 2023 was because he led police on a high speed chase. The second time was for throwing a brick with a hand-written note attached through the window of ESPN’s headquarters in Connecticut, and the third arrest was for missing his court date for the ESPN incident.
In response to news reports of the threats, UConn released a statement saying there were no known imminent threats to the university.
Disturbing stuff, but luckily he was caught before he was able to carry out his plans.
