Arrest warrant: Brother of Aaron Hernandez planned shootings at UConn, Brown

BRISTOL, CT (WFSB) - The brother of a late troubled football star has been arrested for a fourth time this year, this time after police were concerned about him planning school shootings.

Dennis “DJ” Hernandez appeared to be planning shootings at the University of Connecticut and Brown University, arrest documents showed.

DJ Hernandez lives in Bristol. He was a star football player, captained UConn, and coached at Brown.

He was charged with threatening, the Department of Correction listed.

According to an arrest warrant, Bristol police said several people came forward this month to claim that DJ Hernandez acted erratically.

Take a look at the warrant below:

One person told police that “Dennis is extremely sick and that his mental health is continuing to deteriorate.”

An ex-girlfriend told Bristol police that he actually drove to the campuses of UConn and Brown to “map the schools out.” She surmised that he did that because he was planning to do a “school shooting.” She said he actually went into a number of classrooms and buildings on the Storrs campus.

Police said they were made aware of other threatening texts that referenced UConn. They were sent to the ex-girlfriend and a family member, the warrant said.

UConn police said despite the texts there was no imminent threat to the university.

Students on UConn’s campus were shocked.

“I really hope that people close to him talk to him and our community can stay safe. I love UConn I love this school and I love being here,” said David Sugrue, incoming senior.

“I think there’s clearly something wrong mentally. I don’t think anyone has to pay for what happened to his brother but I’m happy he’s in jail now,” said Leonardo Marrin, incoming freshman.

Police said DJ Hernandez made posts with threatening language to social media as well, mostly about about people who wronged him.

Investigators said that based on the information they uncovered, it became apparent that DJ Hernandez was gravely disabled and a danger to society.

Bristol police said they found him at a home. A large police presence was called in because of his history of fleeing on foot.

They said DJ Hernandez left the home, walked around the back of the building, and yelled to officers to shoot him.” They also said he disregarded multiple commands.

Police ultimately used a Taser to subdue him.

DJ Hernandez was take to a hospital, where police said he continued to make threats. They said he threatened to kill anyone who profited off his brother. He also threatened people at ESPN, according to police.

Once released from the hospital, he was held on a $250,000 bond at the Bristol Police Department and handed over to the Department of Correction. Hernandez is set to be in court on these charges next week.

DJ Hernandez was first arrested back in May when he led police on a pursuit.

He was arrested a second time just days later when he threw a bag with a brick and hand-written note at ESPN’s campus in Bristol.

Earlier this month, he missed a court date for the ESPN campus incident, which led to the third arrest.

DJ Hernandez is the brother of Aaron Hernandez, a Bristol-native who played for the New England Patriots and was convicted of murder. Aaron Hernandez later killed himself in prison.

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