After seven days and more than 35 hours of deliberation, a Massachusetts jury found former New England Patriots star tight end Aaron Hernandez's guilty of first-degree murder on Wednesday in the shooting death of his friend Odin Lloyd in 2013.

Hernandez's conviction comes with an automatic mandatory sentence of life in prison without the possibility of parole, reports The New York Times.

The victim, a 27-year-old semi-professional football player, was dating Hernandez's fiancée's sister at the time of his death on June 17, 2013. During the trial, prosecutors argued that Hernandez and his two friends picked Lloyd up in a rented Nissan Altima on the morning of his death and then drove him to a secluded area in North Attleborough" near Hernandez's home. That's where "Odin Lloyd was shot six times," said Bristol County Prosecutor Patrick, reports The Boston Globe.

However, the murder weapon -- a .45 caliber Glock -- was never recovered.

In addition to first-degree murder, the 25-year-old star athlete was also found guilty of firearms and ammunition charges.

Following the verdict, Ed Lloyd described his nephew, Odin, as "a great person" who was hard-working and caring.

"I'm sorry for where I stand today," Ed Lloyd said, addressing the court Wednesday, reports CNN.

"The day I laid my son Odin to rest, I felt my heart stop beating. I felt like I wanted to go into the hole with my son, Odin," said Lloyd's mother, Ursula Ward.

Hernandez, who once had a $40 million contract and a standout career ahead of him, will also stand trial for murder charges in the 2012 drive-by slayings of two men. Hernandez was charged with fatally shooting the men over a spilled drink at a Boston nightclub, reports ESPN Boston.

Back in 2012, Hernandez was also accused of being involved in a friend's shooting in Florida. The victim, Alexander Bradley, lost an eye after he and Hernandez got into an argument over a bar tab. He, however, refused to tell police who shot him.