NFL's Aaron Hernandez Indicted for Murder

Faces life in prison in Massachusetts

ATTLEBOROUGH, Mass.—Aaron Hernandez was given a head-fake by prosecutors Thursday.

With the former New England Patriots tight end expecting to come to district court to argue the evidence against him in a probable cause hearing, prosecutors instead dropped an indictment on him for the same charges he had faced – first-degree murder and five weapons charges.

The indictment was announced in a hearing by Bristol County (Mass.) District Attorney Samuel Sutter.

Hernandez, 23, had been charged with the June 17 shooting murder of 27-year-old semipro football player and friend Odin Lloyd. He pleaded not guilty and has been held without bail since June 26.