Aaron Hernandez commits suicide in prison

Former NFL player and convicted killer Aaron Hernandez killed himself in a prison cell, NBC News confirms. 

Hernandez was found hanging by a bed sheet in the cell Wednesday morning, according to the Massachusetts Department of Correction. 

The 27-year-old was serving a life sentence without the possibility for parole for the 2013 murder of Odin Lloyd. Hernandez's attorneys appealed for a new trial in that case. 

The Boston Globe reports: 

According to a statement for the Department of Correction, the former New England Patriots star was discovered hanging in his cell at the Souza Baranowski Correctional Center in Shirley Massachusetts at approximately 3:05 a.m.

Last week, Hernandez was found not guilty of two counts of murder on Friday in the killing of two men in a drive-by shooting outside a Boston nightclub in July 2012. He faced eight counts in all including two murder counts and three armed assault counts. He also faced a witness intimidation charge and an illegal possession of a firearm charge. He was convicted of just one of those charges: illegal possession of a firearm.

The Associated Press reports Hernandez was pronounced dead at a hospital at 4:07 a.m. Wednesday after prison authorities tried to revive him. 

More from the AP: 

Prison officials say the Hernandez was in a single cell in a general population housing unit at the Souza Baranowski Correctional Center in Shirley, Massachusetts  They say he hanged himself using a bed sheet that he attached to a cell window.

Authorities say Hernandez tried to block the cell door from the inside by jamming the door with various items.

Massachusetts State Police remain on the scene investigating the death.

Hernandez once star tight end

Aaron Hernandez was a rising star with the New England Patriots in 2010. The tight end was the 15th pick out of the University of Florida in the 4th round of the 2010 draft. 

In 38 games over three seasons with the Patriots, Hernandez made 175 receptions and scored 18 touchdowns. 

The Patriots parted ways with Hernandez in 2013 after he was arrested for Lloyd's murder. 

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