Documents: Hernandez said he fired fatal shots

July 10, 2013 at 12:00a.m.

ATTLEBORO, Mass.

A man linked to the murder case against former New England Patriots tight end Aaron Hernandez told police Hernandez admitted firing the fatal shots, and a vehicle wanted in a double killing in Boston a year before had been rented in Hernandez’s name, according to documents filed Tuesday in Florida that provide the most damning evidence yet against the star athlete.

The documents say Hernandez associate Carlos Ortiz told Massachusetts investigators that another man, Ernest Wallace, said Hernandez admitted shooting semi-pro football player Odin Lloyd in an industrial park near Hernandez’s home in North Attleborough. The documents were filed in court by the Miramar, Fla., police to justify a search of Wallace’s home in that city.

Hernandez has pleaded not guilty in Lloyd’s killing.

Kennedy Catholic grad in NBA summer league

Kennedy Catholic High graduate Kyle Randall was recently added to the Sacramento Kings’ summer league team.

Randall, a Youngstown native who finished his college career at Central Michigan, is playing in a minicamp that started Monday and continues until Friday. The NBA summer league goes from Friday to July 22.

Randall (5-10) led the Mid-American Conference in scoring last season with 18.3 points per game and earned second team all-conference honors. He played his first three seasons with North Carolina-Greensboro.

Phantoms’ Connor on U.S. U-18 Select Team

After turning heads in the USHL throughout his rookie season, Youngstown Phantoms forward Kyle Connor, 16, was named to the U.S. Under-18 Select Team for the 2013 Ivan Hlinka Memorial Tournament, which will be held Aug. 5-10 in Breclav, Czech Republic, and Piestany, Slovakia.

Connor posted 17 goals, 24 assists and 41 points in 62 games in 2012-13, leading all Phantoms rookies in scoring and finishing fourth overall on the team. He is one of just six USHL veterans selected to represent Team USA at the prestigious tournament.

Kunkel, Quinlan given OHSAA scholarships

Patrick Kunkel from McDonald and Jimmy Quinlan from Brookfield were two of 54 Ohio student-athletes granted scholarships from the Ohio High School Athletic Association. The OHSAA handed out $66,000 in college scholarships based on selections made by the state’s six District Athletic Boards.

Kunkel received $2,000 and will attend the University of San Francisco and study biology. Quinlan was awarded $1,000 and will attend Geneva College and study chemical engineering.

Chelios, Niedermayer top Hockey Hall class

Chris Chelios and fellow defensemen Scott Niedermayer along with forward Brendan Shanahan found out Tuesday they will be inducted into the Hockey Hall of Fame in November.

Chelios, Niedermayer and Shanahan will be joined in the 2013 class by Geraldine Heaney, the third woman to be enshrined, and coach Fred Shero, who led Philadelphia to the Stanley Cup in 1974 and ’75. Heaney was a defenseman on Canada’s gold-medal team at the 2002 Olympics and is considered one of the best female players in history.

Heckert, second Bronco exec face DUI charges

ENGLEWOOD, Colo.

With two team executives facing drunken driving charges, the Denver Broncos on Tuesday acknowledged a “disturbing pattern of irresponsible behavior” that they vowed to clean up.

Tom Heckert, the Broncos’ recently hired director of pro personnel, was arrested in Parker on the night of June 11 and charged with driving under the influence and careless driving, according to the Douglas County Sheriff’s Department.

Word of his arrest came just one day after Broncos director of player personnel Matt Russell apologized for his arrest over the weekend on suspicion of driving under the influence.

Vindicator staff/wire reports