Aaron Hernandez, the former New England Patriots tight end who has already been charged in the murder of Odin Lloyd, was indicted on two counts of first-degree murder on Thursday. The new charges stem from the killings of two men outside of a club in Boston’s South End in 2012 after they allegedly met Hernandez at the club.
The two men, Daniel Abreu and Safiro Furtado, were shot and killed on July 16, 2012, reports The Boston Globe. Someone in an SUV with Rhode Island plates drove up next to them and shot at their car, killing both men.
The Boston Herald, documents in Connecticut show that police believe Hernandez was the driver of the SUV. In addition, the court papers say that SUV circled the block, passing the victims slowly before they got in their own car.
Police only began investigating Hernandez’s alleged links to the murders after he was arrested for the June 2013 murder of Lloyd, who was found in North Attleborough, near where Hernandez lived. Hernandez is currently facing murder charges in that case. He has pleaded not guilty and is being held without bail.
Abreu and Furtado’s relatives have filed a wrongful death lawsuit against the former football star, with each family seeking $6 million.
If Hernandez is convicted for Abreu and Furtado’s murders, that means that he played the full 2012-2013 NFL season after the shootings.