NFL News: Ex-Patriot Aaron Hernandez Charged In Another 2013 Shooting

Convicted in April of murdering an acquaintance in 2013, ex-New England Patriots tight end Aaron Hernandez is now charged with shooting a witness in a separate 2013 case. Prosecutors from Boston officially filed the charges against the 25-year-old Hernandez for “violating Massachusetts witness intimidation for shooting a man in the face,” the Suffolk County (Massachusetts) district attorney's office said.

Hernandez was sentenced to life in prison without parole for the murder of Odin Lloyd, who was killed June 17, 2013. Two years after the murder, Hernandez was found guilty of first-degree murder plus weapons charges. Hernandez is also facing two murder charges in a separate 2012 double homicide.

"Hernandez allegedly shot [the witness] in the face on the morning of Feb. 13, 2013, and left him to die on the side of the road in Riviera Beach, Florida, after the witness made a remark about the homicides," the district attorney's office said in an official news release.

In the same charges, the prosecutors did not identify the person involved in the nonfatal shooting but the incident matched a civil suit filed by Alexander Bradley, who claims that the former NFL player shot him in the eye, Reuters reported.

Hernandez, who played for the Patriots from 2010 to 2012, was arrested nine days after the murder of Lloyd. Hours later, the Patriots released Hernandez, who was considered one of the best players in his position at the time. In August 2012, Hernandez signed a five-year contract extension with the team with a signing bonus of $12.5 million, the largest ever for a tight end at that time.

For his three-year NFL career, Hernandez is credited with 1,956 receiving yards, 175 receptions and 18 touchdowns. He was a key player in the Patriots’ run to the AFC championship in 2012.

Contact author by email at j.gloriaI@IBTimes.com.au.