Aaron Hernandez's Brother Pleads Guilty to Threatening School Shooting at UConn

Dennis “D.J.” Hernandez, the brother of the deceased murderer and former NFL star Aaron Hernandez, has pleaded guilty to charges related to planning a school shooting, according to federal authorities.

The U.S. Attorney’s Office, District of Connecticut shared in a press release that Dennis, 38, pleaded guilty to “transmitting interstate communications containing a threat to injure” in court on Wednesday, Dec. 18.

According to authorities, Dennis “made multiple statements threatening to carry out a shooting incident” at the University of Connecticut while messaging an unnamed individual on Facebook Messenger. In one statement he made, he allegedly said,  “I would recommend remaining away from there because when I go I’m taking down everything,” adding that he didn’t “give a f— who gets caught in the crossfire.”

Dennis also wrote that he had “died for years now” and it was “[other people’s] turn,” and that he was “prepared to give my life.” He also said that “not all shootings are bad” and that “some are necessary for change to happen.”

His car was even spotted at the University of Connecticut campus on July 7, court documents alleged, per the district attorney’s office.

Later that month, Dennis also “made multiple Facebook posts” in which he threatened to “harm or kill three individuals,” including a state court judge, who resided outside the state of Connecticut, authorities said. He also texted one of the targets, saying, “it’s been years in planning just taking notes, names and locations” and “if we have to take lives or buildings we will.”

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He was arrested on July 19, 2023 after the Bristol Police Department claimed that he appeared to be plotting shootings at the University of Connecticut and Brown University, according to arrest documents obtained by TMZ and local news outlets at the time. 

The documents stated, per the outlets, that several people came forward to police claiming that Hernandez was “displaying very erratic behavior” and showing concerning signs of being “gravely disabled and a danger to society.” The outlets reported that he also made “numerous social media posts that contained threatening and concerning language.”

Per the arrest documents, police went to his residence on July 18 and a standoff ensued after he refused to open the door. He eventually exited his home and “began advancing towards police with his hands outstretched to the side,” while yelling “shoot me” and ignoring numerous police commands, the documents stated.

Police eventually used a Taser on him and he was taken into custody and booked on charges of threatening and breach of peace. Dennis was previously arrested in May 2023 after he threw a bag with a brick and a handwritten note at ESPN’s campus in Bristol, Connecticut. 

Dennis’ sentencing is scheduled for Feb. 6.