Aaron Hernandez Trial

The New England Patriots want all Aaron Hernandez jerseys off the backs of kids, and off the market completely -- and they don't care what it costs to make it happen.

The team just announced that fans can exchange their #81 Hernandez jerseys for a brand new Pats jersey ... totally free of charge.

A spokesperson said, "We know that children love wearing their Patriots jerseys, but may not understand why parents don't want them wearing their Hernandez jerseys anymore."

The trade-in offer is further indictment of Hernandez by his former team ... which cut him even before the murder charges were announced.

The only catch to the deal is you have to exchange the jersey on July 6 or 7 at the team's pro shop at Gillette Stadium in Foxboro, Mass.

Non-local Pats fans -- you're stuck with an alleged murderer on your back.

TMZ has obtained a photo of Aaron Hernandez taken on June 15 ... hours after the alleged nightclub incident with Odin Lloyd that prosecutors believe led to his murder.

The photo of former New England Patriots tight end Aaron Hernandez was snapped at a Marshall's in Massachusetts on June 15th, two days before the shooting death of former semi-pro football player Odin Lloyd ... whom Hernandez has been charged with murdering in cold blood.

Hernandez posed with a fan for the photo -- and his expression is peculiar ... mainly the smile, which feels very forced. Maybe Hernandez was just having a rough morning, or maybe he was thinking about murdering someone ... hard to tell.

And speaking of cold blood, check out Hernandez' t-shirt ... a very interesting choice.

Hernandez was shopping with his fiancee at the time of the photo. His 8-month-old daughter also came along.

The judge didn't buy it ... ordering Hernandez to remain in custody while he awaits trial ... but do you?

Aaron Hernandez was locked and loaded 4 years before his current alleged murder predicament ... and he made sure to capture the gun-toting moment on camera.

TMZ has obtained this photo ... showing a 19-year-old Aaron brandishing a Glock handgun for a selfie iPhone pic. You can see a magazine inserted into the gun, but it's unclear if it was loaded.

We've learned the pic was taken in Gainesville, Florida in 2009 ... the same time Hernandez was playing football for the University of Florida.

An associate of Aaron Hernandez is now officially wanted in connection with the murder of Odin Lloyd ... and police just blasted his face and name out to the world on a wanted poster.

Police believe 41-year-old Ernest Wallace was one of two other men in the car with Hernandez on June 17th ... when Lloyd was shot and killed. Wallace is wanted as an accessory after the fact in Lloyd's murder.

Police say he is armed and dangerous.

The other person in the car, Carlos Ortiz, was arrested Wednesday in Hernandez's hometown of Bristol, Connecticut.

According to the poster ... Wallace also goes by "BO" and "Fish." Police say he was last seen driving a silver/gray 2012 Chrysler 300 -- and is now most likely in Florida, Georgia, Connecticut or Massachusetts.

And boom goes the dynamite ... NFL star Aaron Hernandez' biggest sponsor PUMA has just dropped him like a hot potato.

A rep for PUMA tells TMZ, "PUMA has ended the relationship with athlete Aaron Hernandez in light of the current situation."

Hernandez signed the 2-year endorsement deal with PUMA in April 2013 as the face of its "training category." It's unclear how much the deal was worth ... but safe to say, a lot.

As we reported, Hernandez is currently in custody awaiting his murder trial. Hernandez was charged with 1st degree murder and 5 other gun-related charges in connection with the death of a 27-year-old former semi-pro football player named Odin Lloyd.

Hernandez is being held without bail.

NFL star and murder suspect Aaron Hernandez has just been denied bail ... meaning he'll rot behind bars until his trial ... and that could take forever.

Hernandez was present in court today for a bail review hearing, where his lawyer begged the judge to release Hernandez from custody while he awaits trial.

But the judge wasn't moved by his arguments -- that Hernandez is an upstanding citizen and family man with no flight risk -- claiming the prosecution already had very strong evidence that Hernandez had committed the crime.

As for the evidence ... the prosecutor went through the entire timeline leading up to the murder of Odin Lloyd earlier this month, including matching shell casings found at the murder scene and inside Hernandez' rental car. He also mentioned the photo TMZ posted last night -- showing Hernandez brandishing a glock in the mirror 4 years ago -- claiming it's possible the murder weapon was also a glock.

The prosecutor said they'd be seeking the max sentence for Hernandez ... life without parole.

Hernandez' fiancee -- who was also present in court -- was inconsolable when the judge issued her decision to keep the NFL star behind bars.

As we reported, Hernandez was remanded into custody yesterday following his arraignment and was ordered to be held WITHOUT bail.

Hernandez has been charged with murder in the death of 27-year-old Odin Lloyd. He's also been hit with 5 gun-related charges.

Officials in Massachusetts will NOT confirm if Aaron Hernandez is connected to a 2012 double murder investigation ... but they're not exactly denying it either.

There are reports that Hernandez is being investigated about a shooting incident from July 2012 -- when two men were killed in a late-night drive-by in Boston.

We reached out to the Suffolk County District Attorney ... and a rep for the office would only confirm there is an "active investigation" into the case.

When we pushed and asked if Hernandez was a person of interest ... the rep had no comment.

However, one source close to the situation tells us, "It's safe to assume he is now involved."

Stay tuned ...

TMZ has obtained a photo of Aaron Hernandez throwing up gang signs often associated with the Bristol Bloods street gang in Connecticut ... while dressed head-to-toe in red clothing.

The photo was taken approximately 6 years ago, when Aaron was 17-years-old ... and a senior at Bristol Central High.

Aaron was long-rumored to be a member of the gang ... and now, with this photo -- combined with the "blood" tattoo spotted on his hand during his arraignment -- the doubt has seemingly been erased.

23-year-old Hernandez has been charged with the murder of 27-year-old Odin Lloyd. He's due back in court later today.

Aaron Hernandez was in constant fear that someone wanted him dead ... and that's why he stocked up on firearms ... sources close to the former New England Patriots star tell TMZ.

We're told ... the stories about Aaron's connections to gang members in Connecticut are real -- because the 23-year-old had joined one back when he was a teenager.

Sources connected to Aaron tell us ... he had been trying to move away from the gangster life ever since he signed his fat $40 million contract with the Patriots back in 2012, but it's not as easy as it sounds.

In fact, we're told Aaron believed people in the gangster world felt Aaron owed them something ... but it wasn't all about money -- they wanted his time and respect.

Sources say ... in the months leading up to the death of Odin Lloyd, Hernandez became paranoid that people from his "old lifestyle" were trying to kill him. It's unclear if Aaron feared scorned friends ... or rivals.

When TMZ asked Aaron Hernandez about a hypothetical bounty on his head ... all he could do was smile and laugh -- then again, the footage was shot nearly 4 months before he allegedly killed someone.

We found this clip showing the former New England Patriots star leaving Saddle Ranch on March 5 ... sporting a big ol' smile as we asked him about the NFL bounty scandal.

Now, of course, the term "hit" has taken on a totally different meaning ... as the 23-year-old faces murder charges in the slaying of 27-year-old Odin Lloyd.

Prosecutors believe they have a CRUCIAL piece of evidence that proves Aaron Hernandez murdered Odin Lloyd ... and the proof tastes like cotton candy.

As Aaron stood shackled in a Massachusetts courtroom moments ago, prosecutors spelled out their case against the former New England Patriots player.

During the hearing, prosecutors say they can prove Hernandez stopped at a gas station hours before the murder and purchased gas, cigarettes and BLUE COTTON CANDY FLAVORED BUBBLICIOUS BUBBLE GUM.

After Odin was murdered, investigators say they found a shell casing in his rental car that matched the caliber of the bullet used to kill the 27-year-old ... and next to the casing -- A CHEWED PIECE OF BLUE COTTON CANDY FLAVORED BUBBLICIOUS BUBBLE GUM.

Officials believe the gum places Hernandez at the scene of the crime -- and proves he killed Odin.

Former New England Patriots tight end Aaron Hernandez has just been charged with murder in connection with the death of a 27-year-old former semi-pro football player named Odin Lloyd.

23-year-old Hernandez was arraigned this morning in a Massachusetts courtroom. He has since been remanded into custody without bail.

In addition to murder, Hernandez has been charged with 1 count of carrying a gun without a license, 2 counts of possession of a large firearm, and 2 counts of firearm possession. He has pled not guilty.

FYI, there is no death penalty in Massachusetts ... so that's not an option in this case.

The DA said Lloyd was shot multiple times in the groin, arm, side, chest and back with a .45 caliber semi automatic weapon before his body was discovered last Monday.

Prosecutors say there was communication between the victim and Hernandez just 10 hours before the victim's death. They believe they have video showing Lloyd getting into Hernandez' car around that time. They also say Hernandez had been texting Lloyd.

The DA said keys were found in Lloyd's pocket to a car that had been rented by Hernandez.

The Friday before Lloyd's body was found, prosecutors say Hernandez and Lloyd went to a nightclub together.

As for the motive, prosecutors believe Odin had said something recently to Hernandez that destroyed his trust.

As we reported, Hernandez was arrested today at his Massachusetts home after Lloyd's body was discovered close to the NFL star's home last week.

Lloyd is believed to have been dating the sister of Aaron's fiancee at the time of his murder.

The New England Patriots have DROPPED tight end Aaron Hernandez in the wake of the NFL star's arrest early Wednesday morning ... and the team says the move was the "right thing to do."

23-year-old Hernandez was a rising star with the Patriots and signed a 5-year contract worth $40 MILLION just last summer.

The Patriots just released a statement saying, "A young man was murdered last week and we extend our sympathies to the family and friends who mourn his loss. Words cannot express the disappointment we feel knowing that one of our players was arrested as a result of this investigation."

"We realize that law enforcement investigations into this matter are ongoing. We support their efforts and respect the process. At this time, we believe this transaction is simply the right thing to do.”

Officials have not announced what Hernandez has been charged with so far ... but the charges will be revealed when Hernandez appears in court for his arraignment later today.

8:55 AM PT -- The NFL has issued a statement ... saying, "The involvement of an NFL player in a case of this nature is deeply troubling."

8:53 AM PT -- The Patriots are scrubbing any trace of Hernandez from the organization -- removing all A.H. merchandise from the team store ... and erasing him from the official roster on the team website.

New England Patriots tight end Aaron Hernandez has been ARRESTED in connection with the murder of a man whose body was discovered close to the NFL star's home.

Hernandez was taken into custody at his home in Massachusetts. He was handcuffed and led into a waiting police cruiser, which left the scene moments later ... presumably headed for a local police station.

The 23-year-old NFL star is reportedly set to be arraigned later today.

There are reports based on law enforcement sources that Hernandez destroyed evidence and could be charged with obstruction of justice. So far, no formal charges have been announced.

The move comes days after cops searched Hernandez's Massachusetts home ... looking for evidence connected to the murder of 27-year-old Odin Lloyd, an ex semi-pro football player.

Lloyd's body was discovered in a park in North Attleborough, Mass last Monday. It appears he was shot through the back of the head.

Lloyd's family says the NFL star does have a connection to Lloyd -- but they wouldn't elaborate. According to reports, Lloyd had been dating the sister of Hernandez's fiancée.

TMZ broke the story ... Hernandez is also facing a lawsuit stemming from a separate incident, in which he allegedly shot a man in the face following a dispute at a Miami strip club back in February.

Hernandez is a rising star with the Patriots and signed a 5-year contract worth $40 MILLION just last summer.

Cops today entered the home of Aaron Hernandez for the second time this week in connection to the homicide of Odin Lloyd.

Law enforcement arrived Saturday afternoon to Hernandez's Massachusetts home with two police dogs and what appeared to be evidence gathering equipment, according to reports.

The Patriots' tight-end is being investigated​ in connection to the recent murder of Odin -- a semi-pro footballer who was found shot dead Monday near Hernandez's home. Cops previously searched the home Thursday.

According to reports, law enforcement is investigating three specific things: why Hernandez's security system was destroyed, why he handed his cell-phone to cops in broken pieces and why he hired a cleaning crew on Monday to scrub down his house ... all items which could have contained key pieces of evidence.

Aaron Hernandez can say goodbye to one of his sponsors -- Muscle Milk is jumping ship in the wake of the NFL star's legal troubles.

CytoSport -- the company behind the popular supplement -- said it was dropping the Patriots' tight end immediately ... in the light of the ongoing investigation.

Police searched Hernandez's Massachusetts home and the area around it ... while investigating the homicide of Odin Lloyd ... who has connections to Hernandez.

Hernandez -- who has not been arrested or named a suspect in Lloyd's death -- is also being sued for allegedly shooting a man in Miami.