Former New England Patriots star Aaron Hernandez was found guilty Wednesday morning of first-degree murder.

The 25-year-old former tight end had a $40 million dollar contract and a standout career ahead of him when he was accused of shooting Odin Lloyd, an amateur football player. Lloyd was dating Hernandez’s sister at the time of his death.

According to ESPN, the penalty for first-degree murder in Massachusetts carries an automatic life without parole sentence. It also automatically triggers an appeal to Massachusetts’ highest appeals court. The date for the appeal has yet to be set.

Hernandez’s failed defense attempted to pin the shooting on two of Hernandez’s friends, saying that Hernandez was just a “23-year-old kid” who witnessed a shocking crime.

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http://espn.go.com/boston/nfl/story/_/id/12694600/aaron-hernandez-found-guilty-2013-killing-odin-lloyd