Former Patriots TE Aaron Hernandez indicted for 2012 double murder

Aaron Hernandez has been indicted on a first-degree murder charge. (Jared Wickerham/Getty Images)

Former New England Patriots tight end Aaron Hernandez was indicted Thursday for the murder of two men in July 2012, the Suffolk County District Attorney's office announced.

The grand jury also handed down an additional indictment charging Hernandez’ cousin, Tanya Singleton, with criminal contempt of court. 

Hernandez is already in jail awaiting trial in the 2013 killing of semi-professional football player Odin Lloyd. Hernandez pleaded not guilty to that murder charge and several other weapons charges. Earlier this month, Hernandez also was reportedly indicted on charges related to a jailhouse assault.

The indictment stems from the alleged murders of Daniel Abreu and Safiro Furtado. Authorities say the pair were killed shortly after they left a nightclub with three of their friends on July 16, 2012.

Suffolk District Attorney Daniel Conley said at a news conference Thursday the victims were ''ambushed and executed as they drove home.'' Conley said after a “chance encounter” between Hernandez, Abreu and Furtado at a Boston nightclub, Hernandez followed the men in his car after they left. Hernandez then pulled his car up to the victims and fired a .38-caliber Smith & Wesson pistol into the car, killing Abreu and Furtado, and injuring a third man.

In February, the families of the victims filed wrongful death lawsuits against the former NFL star, each seeking $6 million in damages.

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