Aaron Hernandez murder case: what court documents reveal about that night

A fuller picture of the case against former New England Patriots star Aaron Hernandez is emerging after the release of two sets of court documents Tuesday.

An associate of Mr. Hernandez who was with him the night that Odin Lloyd, a semiprofessional football player, was shot and killed in an industrial park near Hernandez’s house told investigators it was Hernandez who fired the shots that killed Mr. Lloyd, according to court documents obtained by the Associated Press.

Prosecutors have said publicly that Hernandez was with two other men, Carlos Ortiz and Ernest Wallace, in the early hours of June 17, the day Lloyd is believed to have been killed. Surveillance videos show them picking up Lloyd and driving to an industrial park where Lloyd’s body was later found. But investigators have not publicly said who they think fired the shots that killed Lloyd, saying only that Hernandez “orchestrated” the slaying.

"All we've done is charge is Aaron Hernandez with murder," Samuel Sutter, district attorney for Bristol County, Mass., said Monday. "As far as the specifics about who was the shooter and who might have been a joint venturer, it's too early to say. The investigation is ongoing."

According to court documents, Mr. Ortiz told investigators that Hernandez said to Lloyd during the drive to the industrial park that Lloyd had been "chilling" with people Hernandez had problems with. Ortiz told police the two men shook hands and the problem seemed smoothed over. But the car soon stopped, and everyone but Ortiz got out to urinate, according to Ortiz's account.

Somebody who happened to be in the area told police he then heard gunshots before Hernandez and Mr. Wallace got back in the car without Lloyd and the car sped away, according to the documents.

Ortiz said he couldn't see who fired the shots because it was dark. But he told investigators that Wallace said it was Hernandez who fired the shots.

Hernandez has pleaded not guilty in Lloyd's killing. Wallace faces an accessory to murder charge in the case and has pleaded not guilty. Ortiz is charged with illegal possession of a firearm and is being held in jail without bail. 

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