Dennis Hernandez, brother of the late NFL player Aaron Hernandez, has acknowledged his involvement in a concerning incident involving threats of violence directed at the University of Connecticut and individuals outside the state, according to federal prosecutors.
In a federal courthouse in Hartford, Dennis Hernandez, known to many as ‘DJ’ during his college football years at UConn, entered a guilty plea on charges related to transmitting interstate threats to injure others. This serious charge is accompanied by a potential prison sentence of up to five years, with sentencing scheduled for early February.
The troubled 38-year-old had previously been involved in various legal issues, displaying signs of mental health challenges, including bipolar disorder and schizophrenia, according to family accounts. At the time of his arrest, Hernandez exhibited erratic behavior, including threatening law enforcement officers during a confrontation at his sister’s residence.
Court documents reveal that Hernandez had threatened a shooting at UConn’s main campus in July 2023 through Facebook messages to another individual. His alarming statement included, ‘I would recommend remaining away from there because when I go I’m taking down everything,’ expressing a willingness to harm others as part of what he perceived to be necessary changes.
Additionally, Hernandez had shared similar threats towards people residing outside Connecticut, including a state judge, also through social media channels. This behavior was linked to his financial struggles and perceived injustices, particularly regarding coaching opportunities he felt were unfairly denied to him after his tenure as a quarterback and wide receiver at UConn.
Hernandez’s dissatisfaction with media coverage and profiteering from his brother Aaron Hernandez’s tragic end also fueled his actions. His arrest in March 2023 followed a bizarre incident at ESPN headquarters, where he threw a brick over a fence accompanied by a note criticizing the media’s impact on his family, urging them to change their ways.
Dennis Hernandez’s increasingly erratic actions, stemming from personal, professional, and mental health challenges, paint a complex portrait of a man grappling with unresolved issues and their devastating effects on his life.
The case of Dennis Hernandez underscores the profound impact mental health struggles and perceived injustices can have on individuals, leading to dire consequences. As his sentencing approaches, it remains critical to address these underlying issues to prevent similar incidents in the future.
Source: Local10
