Aaron Hernandez Sued Amid 'Link To Homicide'

American football player Aaron Hernandez, already connected to a homicide in Massachusetts, is being sued in South Florida by a man claiming Hernandez shot him in the face after they argued at a strip club.

The lawsuit filed late Wednesday by Alexander Bradley comes as police investigate Hernandez's possible connection to the death of A 27-year-old man found near the athlete's New England home.

Mr Bradley claims in the lawsuit he and Hernandez were with a group in February at a club in Miami when the two got into an argument.

Later, as they were driving to Palm Beach County, Mr Bradley claims Hernandez shot him with a handgun, causing him to lose his right eye.

Mr Bradley did not mention Hernandez in a police report at the time.

Meanwhile, the Patriots tight end has been questioned by police investigating the death of Odin Lloyd.

Mr Lloyd's body was found in an industrial park near the Hernandez's home in North Attleborough, Massachusetts, according to a prosecutor's office.

Family and officials have kept quiet about the nature of the NFL star's relationship to the victim, two days after police first visited his sprawling home.

Mr Lloyd was a semi-pro football player for the Boston Bandits, and his family said he had a connection to Hernandez.

His cause of death has not been released.

Hernandez's attorney, Michael Fee, acknowledged state police officials had searched his client's home as part of an investigation but said he and the player would not be making any comment.

Mr Lloyd's mother, Ursula Ward, would not say how Lloyd knew Hernandez or whether police told her how her son died.

"My son is a wonderful child," Ms Ward said Wednesday. "He's a family guy. He hasn't done anything to hurt anyone."

Bristol District Attorney Samuel Sutter's office said investigators were asking for the public's help to find a silver mirror cover believed to have broken off a car between Boston and North Attleborough.

Sports Illustrated magazine, citing an unidentified source, reported Tuesday that Hernandez was not believed to be a suspect in what was being treated then as a possible homicide.

The Patriots drafted Hernandez in 2010. Since then, he has combined with Rob Gronkowski to form one of the top tight end duos in the NFL.

Last summer, the Patriots gave him a five-year contract worth \$40m (£25m).