[Shaun]

An American football star has been charged with murder after a fellow player was found dead last week in a Massachusetts industrial park.

Aaron Hernandez, 23, was taken in handcuffs from his home south of Boston in connection with the death of Odin Lloyd, 27, a semi-professional player.

Hernandez was dropped from his team, the New England Patriots, after Wednesday morning's arrest.

The National Football League called the arrest "deeply troubling".

The league has struggled to improve its image after a string of cases involving dog fighting and gambling, among other criminal charges.

Mr Hernandez was also charged with several firearms violations.

Prosecutors say Lloyd was shot multiple times and that the former Patriots tight-end had a dispute with him a few days before.

The dead man's family say he and Mr Hernandez were friends, and that Lloyd's girlfriend and Mr Hernandez's fiancee are sisters.

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