Prosecutors say former Patriots tight end Aaron Hernandez murdered two innocent men who did nothing more than cross paths with the wrong person two years ago.
At a press conference announcing that Hernandez is being charged for the double murder, District Attorney Daniel Conley said that victims Daniel de Abreu and Safiro Furtado were gunned down by Hernandez, and that police have recovered the murder weapon, a .38 caliber Smith & Wesson revolver, and linked it to Hernandez.
“Mr. de Abreu and Mr. Furtado were ambushed and executed as they drove home,” Conley said. “Aaron Hernandez is the principal, the shooter, and the person responsible for taking the lives of the two victims.”
Conley said reports that the two victims may have been involved in some type of criminal activities were false.
“Nothing could be further from the truth,” Conley said. “Neither of them were involved in gangs, guns or violent crime of any kind, and that characterization was unfair to their memories and their families.”
Instead, authorities say the two victims had a “chance encounter” with Hernandez while they all happened to be at the same bar, and Hernandez followed them out and opened fire into their vehicle, killing them both and also shooting at three others who were with the two victims.
Hernandez’s cousin, Tanya Singleton, is also facing a charge of criminal contempt of court for failing to aid in the investigation after originally agreeing to cooperate in exchange for immunity from prosecution.
Hernandez is currently in jail awaiting trial on another murder charge in the shooting death of Odin Lloyd. Authorities say Hernandez will likely stand trial for the murder of Lloyd first, and then stand trial for the murder of de Abreu and Furtado after the conclusion of the trial in Lloyd’s death.