Police issued an arrest warrant for New England Patriots tight end Aaron Hernandez. He's charged with obstruction of justice, ABC News reports. In light of the homicide investigation, scouting reports suggest NFL teams had concerns in 2010 about drafting Hernandez.
Authorities allege Hernandez obstructed justice by destroying potential evidence. Hernandez is believed to have intentionally destroyed his home security system, which included surveillance video. His cell phone was delivered to police "in pieces" and appeared to have been smashed. Police also want to know why the 23-year-old hired professionals on Monday to clean his mansion.
Hernandez hasn't been ruled out as a suspect in the homicide.
Growing evidence indicates Hernandez and the victim, Odin Lloyd, were together throughout the weekend at several nightclubs, including the night before the discovery of Lloyd's body. Video images from nightclubs and places around Hernandez's home appear to show Hernandez, Lloyd and two other men together early Monday morning.
Authorities believe Lloyd was killed sometime before dawn that day. His body was found by a jogger later that evening in an industrial park, about a mile from Hernandez's mansion in North Attleborough, Mass. The homicide resembled an execution-style murder, with the cause of death a gunshot in the back of the head.
Lloyd, 27, was a semi-pro football player who reportedly dated the aunt of Hernandez's daughter.
Hernandez is also being sued by a former friend who claims in February the Patriots player shot him in the face.
Behavioral concerns might have been why Hernandez, a talented tight end, fell to the fourth round of the 2010 NFL draft. The 113th overall pick out of Florida had NFL teams worried about his character and the people he hung around with, according to the Boston Globe.
His marijuana use and failed drug tests, short temper and sketchy friends made him a risky pick for teams. An NFL scout reported Hernandez as growing up around "street activity" in Connecticut.
"It's pretty well known that he had failed some drug tests at Florida, and there were questions about his maturity that come along with that," the Scout said. "You worried about the people he hung out with."
Despite the character concerns, Hernandez was regarded as a hard worker. He had kept a low-profile since the Patriots drafted him, earning a Pro Bowl trip in 2011 and tallying 18 career touchdowns. Alongside teammate Rob Gronkowski, Hernandez formed one of the NFL's most effective tight end tandems ever.
