Waco Cult Leader David Koresh '68 Camaro From Deadly Siege ... Zak Bagans Selling Creepy Artifact

During cult leader David Koresh's infamous, weeks-long standoff with the FBI, in Waco, he had a '68 Chevrolet Camaro SS waiting to whisk him away ... and now the car's on the market.

Koresh ultimately died, along with more than 70 of his cult followers, during the 51-day siege of his Texas compound back in 1993 ... and the Camaro changed hands over the years before ending up with "Ghost Adventures" star Zak Bagans, who is now selling the classic car.

Zak bought the Camaro from a classic car dealer in Arizona for $61,995 in 2018, but now he's expecting the car to go for at least six figures.

The car, dubbed "Armageddon's Relic," has been featured for years in Zak's Haunted Museum in Las Vegas ... but he tells us he has decided to list it with Vegas Auto Gallery because it's time to rotate his spooky artifacts on display.

The Camaro SS is rumored to have been Koresh's planned getaway car ... but he never made it out of the Waco compound where the FBI believed his religious sect was illegally stockpiling weapons.

The tragic standoff got the Hollywood treatment in 2019 when Paramount produced a mini-series on the whole ordeal, with Taylor Kitsch starring as the cult leader.

Koresh certainly left his mark on the car ... doing some custom work at the compound and inscribing the words "DAVIDES 427 GO GOD" on the V8 engine block under the hood.

The car sustained a ton of damage during the siege, but the Camaro's since been restored and outfitted with a set of custom bucket seats, a Grant GT sports steering wheel and a Hurst shifter for the 4-speed manual transmission. The Chevy has 66,371 miles on it and comes with the original Texas title.

It will be interesting to see the market for Koresh's Camaro ... the only thing darker than its paint job is its past.

Derek Jeter Yeah, I Wore A Golden Thong Once ... I Had To Get Out Of A Slump!!!

Derek Jeter says he was slumping so terribly back in the 2004 season -- he turned to none other than a golden thong to get him out of his rut.

Seriously.

The former Yankees captain made the surprising -- and hilarious -- revelation while playing a game called "True Confessions" with Jimmy Fallon and Rita Ora on Wednesday night's "The Tonight Show."

Jeter was forced to pick one of two topics, and his two cohosts had to guess if he was telling the truth or not.

"I once wore a thong, in public, in front of thousands of people," Jeter said.

Both Fallon and Ora thought it was a fib -- but the ex-NY shortstop said it was, in fact, a real tale.

Jeter explained ... back in 2002, he got a new teammate who swore up and down that wearing a golden thong would get him out of any slump.

Jeter initially thought it was a load of B.S. -- but at the start of the '04 season, he hit an offensive rut that he had never seen before.

"Every day I'd walk in, [my teammate] would point at the thong," Jeter said. "So, finally, I wore the thong."

First pitch of his first at-bat? Home run for Jeets.

"Yes, yes," Jeter said. "That is true."

The game was said to be the Yanks' April 29, 2004 contest against the Oakland A's. Records show he was in an 0-for-32 skid before cracking a dinger off Barry Zito at Yankee Stadium.

As for who the golden thong's true owner was? According to a 2015 interview on the Dan Le Batard Show, it was none other than Jason Giambi.

"The golden thong is legendary," JG said during the '15 discussion on ESPN Radio. "It's never not gotten a hit."

By the way, if you're wondering about the hygiene of it all -- don't worry, Jeter said there was no thong-to-skin contact.

"I had shorts on underneath," he said. "I put the thong over the shorts."

Phew.

Ne-Yo DIVORCE FINALIZED ... Shared Custody, Assets Split

Ne-Yo and his ex-wife just finalized their divorce, and the terms call for him to keep 3 of their 4 homes and a Bentley ... while forking over a bunch of money to even things out.

According to legal docs, obtained by TMZ, Ne-Yo is paying his ex-wife, Crystal Renay, a $1.6 million lump sum to balance out the division of their real estate holdings ... she gets 1 of their 4 Georgia homes, plus $20,000 in moving expenses.

Ne-Yo's also tacking on a $150,000 check to his ex, so she can buy a new car. He's taking their old one ... a 2022 Bentley Bentayga.

The "So Sick" singer will also pay Crystal $12,000 a month in child support -- they have 3 kids together -- and he'll cover the kids' school expenses. Ne-Yo will also have to fork over $5,000/month in alimony for the next 3 years.

Ne-Yo and Crystal will have joint custody, and they both agree that neither party will have new romantic partners around the minor children unless they get married or engaged to that partner ... or get the signoff from each other.

Remember ... Crystal filed for divorce back in August, claiming Ne-Yo had fathered a child with another woman.

Selena Gomez This Is Really Me ... My Natural Look

Selena Gomez is not hiding behind filters, edits or layers of makeup ... instead, she's baring her natural face for all to see, and getting tons of support in the process.

The "Only Murders In The Building" star just shared a series of selfies -- that in and of itself wouldn't be news ... but these pics do stand out, because they're definitely unfiltered. She's got a pimple on her face, after all, and folks are digging the realness.

Selena captioned the photos, "Me," which is clearly fitting. She's also rocking seemingly naturally curly hair -- no straighteners today.

While some celebs never post photos without filters, makeup, or professional edits ... or let's face it, Photoshop ... Selena's making the bold move.

Selena's fans are eating it up ... her IG post is littered with positive comments, with folks noting her "natural beauty" and applauding her for sending a positive message to young girls and women scrolling their feeds.

TMZ INVESTIGATES

While Selena's got her own makeup line, Rare Beauty, it's clear she doesn't need it to feel confident.

AU NATURALE
TMZ.com

Brava. 👏🏽

Tom Brady Belongs On Sports' Mt. Rushmore ... Deion Branch Says

RETIRING HIS WAY
TMZSports.com

If an artist begins carving a new sports Mt. Rushmore into the side of a mountain in South Dakota in the upcoming weeks ... Deion Branch tells TMZ Sports Tom Brady is a for-sure lock to have a place in it.

The ex-NFL star insisted Wednesday just hours after Brady called it a career -- for real this time (we think) -- the former Buccaneers and Patriots quarterback has done enough to be considered one of the unanimous four best athletes ever.

Branch didn't want to say where he'd rank TB12 amongst the quartet -- but he said the ex-signal caller definitely belongs in the same conversations as the Michael Jordans, Wayne Gretzkys and Derek Jeters of the sports world.

"We do know that Tom is the greatest to ever put on a football jersey," Branch said ... before adding, "Tom will go down as the greatest football player to ever play the game."

Of course, Branch is a bit biased -- he played seven seasons with Brady in New England, winning two Super Bowls and an SB MVP with the QB -- but there won't be too many people arguing against his opinion.

Brady played 23 seasons in the league, winning seven Super Bowls and three MVP awards. He also made 15 Pro Bowl teams, 3 All-Pro teams, and retired as the NFL's leader in passing yards (89,214) and passing touchdowns (649).

Branch tells us the QB should have absolutely no regrets about not hanging things up sooner ... and, in fact, he said he's happy for the 45-year-old over the way he got to do it all.

Going forward, Brady is now expected to make the jump to the broadcasting world ... but if he has any inclination to return to the field, check out the clip, Branch clearly thinks he could still play at a high level.

Scotty O'Neal In 'My Best Friend's Wedding' 'Memba Him?!

American actor Christopher Masterson was 17 years old when he was cast as Scotty O'Neal -- the young brother and best man who is a tad shy but enjoys being around the bridesmaids -- in the Rom-Com film "My Best Friend's Wedding" back in 1997.

Masterson shared the big screen with Hollywood icons including Julia Roberts as the single gal trying to prevent her best friend from getting married, Julianne Potter, Cameron Diaz as the young blonde and soon-to-be wife who can not carry a tune whatsoever, Kimberly Wallace and Dermot Mulroney as the handsome and charming soon-to-be hubby, Michael O'Neal.

Christopher also played Malcolm's older brother, Francis, in "Malcolm In The Middle."

Guess what he looks like now!

49ers' Fred Warner Wife Didn't 'Feel Safe' At Eagles Game ... I'm Never Going Back!!

FIRED UP FANS

The wife of 49ers star Fred Warner won't be showing up to Eagles games in the future after she says Philly fans treated her horribly, berating her during the NFC Championship game, and it made her feel unsafe.

Warner's wife, Sydney, opened up about her experience at Lincoln Financial Field ... and let's just say she got a warm Philadelphia welcome.

The All-Pro's spouse says she was minding her own business, getting something to eat at a concession stand when a drunk Eagles fan got in her face, and tried to intimidate her.

"I tried my best to just not let it get to me." the 27-year-old said in a TikTok video on Wednesday.

"Like stay stone face, just walk and just let them throw stuff at you, say all the things and just get to where you're going. Just block it out."

Of course, that's easier said than done.

TMZ INVESTIGATES

But, that was nothing compared to what happened when Sydney attempted to leave the game a bit early in an attempt to avoid the hecklers. Unfortunately, she ended up in a tunnel filled with Eagles fans.

"The way they were just like 'go home, go home' but that's fine. I get it but 'I hope your plane crashes!'" Sydney said, "I’m all about passion, but never again.”

Sydney, who married the linebacker last June, says it got so bad that she had to hide her red bag under her jacket so they wouldn't harass her, but she still felt unsafe.

"Like I'm 100% down riding for riding your team, but honestly, I just didn't feel safe," Sydney said.

"I will probably never go back to that stadium, to be honest. I guess you can just call me a wimp, but I couldn't handle the fans."

Now, Sydney joins Santa 🎅❄️ and thousands of others who will never again watch a football game in the City of Brothely Love 🙄

Keanu Reeves Alleged Stalker Thinks We're Family ... I Need Protection, STAT!!!

Keanu Reeves is getting protection from a man he claims showed up at his home, apparently hell-bent on trying to prove they're somehow related.

The "Matrix" star's lawyer, Mathew Rosengart, beelined it to court Tuesday asking the judge for a temporary restraining order ... to protect Keanu and his partner, Alexandra Grant, from a 38-year-old man named Bryan Dixon -- who he claims is transient and has been harassing them for months.

According to new legal docs obtained by TMZ, Keanu hired a security firm to investigate Dixon after claiming he kept showing up at the actor's home uninvited, and finding different ways onto the property.

The docs say Dixon trespassed 6 times from November through January -- the first time, on November 5, he entered through a side gate and fell asleep in the backyard before getting the boot.

Dixon allegedly came back the next morning and left a "suspicious and alarming" backpack on Keanu's property, which they say included a DNA testing kit “apparently intended to use on Mr. Reeves in a delusional attempt to prove they are blood-related."

Keanu's legal team says Dixon is a complete stranger to the actor, but they've discovered some red flags -- for instance, Dixon currently has a bench warrant issued against him in Rhode Island for alleged breaking and entering with felonious intent, possessing burglary tools and vandalism.

Keanu’s lawyers claim the guy's rap sheet goes back 2 decades.

What's more, Keanu's camp claims Dixon keeps posting disturbing messages on social media referring to himself as "Jasper Keith Reeves" and has set out to assign all of his personal "rights" to Keanu and put Keanu in "charge" of him.

SCARY STALKER
TMZ.com

The judge granted a temporary restraining order barring Dixon from coming within 100 yards of Keanu and Alexandra.

TMZ INVESTIGATES

Keanu says the guy tried to enter his property as recently as Jan. 20, and police are now involved.

NBA YoungBoy I Hate My 'Murder' Raps ... Converting to Mormonism Soon!!!

NBA YoungBoy released 8 full-length projects in 2022, but it doesn't look like he'll be cosigning his own catalog in the near future.

In a new revelation to Billboard, the Louisiana-born rap star is showing remorse for the content of his lyrics, and looking to turn over a new leaf ... by converting to Mormonism and changing the direction of his raps.

YoungBoy says it troubles him to know fans, kids included, might have heard his music and been influenced to harm other people ... and he holds himself accountable.

The 23-year-old admits he can't lyrically rewrite all his wrongs as a street rapper ... but vows to take it day by day to get the job done.

YoungBoy shocked fans shortly after the new year with the bombshell -- he married his longtime girlfriend and mother of 2 of his kids and doesn't seem to be done with divinity.

Waiting for your permission to load the Instagram Media.

He's been on house arrest for several years but found newfound peace while residing in Utah and getting close to missionaries from The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints ... and plans on getting baptized with them once cops clear him to be outside without monitoring.

Waiting for your permission to load Spotify album.

He spread plenty of love with his latest album, "I Rest My Case" in January ... as it's mostly filled with sex romps.

Dallas Zoo Stolen Monkeys OK After Health Check ... Reward Up To $25K

The 2 monkeys found in the closet of an abandoned home seem to be healthy after vanishing from a Dallas Zoo ... now officials are upping the stakes to find the culprit.

The Dallas Zoo gave a health update Wednesday on the 2 monkeys ... "Bella and Finn were so happy to snuggle into their nest sack here at the Zoo last night! Our vet and animal care teams have said, beyond losing a bit of weight, they show no signs of injury."

BTW ... these monkeys only weigh about a pound, so every ounce counts.

Officials said the 2 emperor tamarin monkeys started to eat and drink almost immediately after getting examined. Now they have to go through a quarantine period before they can be returned to their zoo habitat.

TMZ INVESTIGATES

You'll recall, the 2 emperor tamarin monkeys were found Tuesday in the closet of an abandoned home in Lancaster TX ... a day after a Dallas zoo notified Dallas PD that they were missing from their habitat.

And, while health officials are watching over the monkeys, Dallas PD is trying to nab anyone involved in the heist ... the zoo's hiked the reward to $25K.

Sunday
COPS WANNA TALK
Dallas Police Department

As we reported, police are looking for a guy who was spotted eating a bag of chips at the zoo around the same time they went missing. He has not been named a person of interest or a suspect. All we know is cops want to speak with him.

Damar Hamlin Attends 'Masked Singer' Taping ... 4 Wks After Medical Emergency

Damar Hamlin was a special guest at a taping for "The Masked Singer" Tuesday night ... marking one of the Buffalo Bills safety's first appearances since his medical emergency last month.

TMZ Sports has obtained pictures from the set of the taping ... showing the 24-year-old holding a football and smiling on stage alongside host Nick Cannon, with his name in big red letters on the screen behind him.

Hamlin made his first public appearance at the Bills vs. Cincinnati Bengals game on Jan. 22 ... but while he was present to show support for his team, he did not speak to the media.

Waiting for your permission to load the Instagram Media.

Hamlin has since posted videos on his social media -- thanking his supporters and kickstarting a CPR challenge campaign with the American Heart Association.

TMZ INVESTIGATES

We're told Hamlin attended the taping alongside his young brother, Damir, who's a big fan of the show ... and he wanted to come along to check out the action.

Season nine of "The Masked Singer" airs Feb. 15 on FOX ... and it's safe to say Bills Mafia will be tuning in to check out their beloved player.

Alyssa Milano Reached Out to Britney ... To Apologize for 2022 Tweet

Alyssa Milano has extended an olive branch to Britney Spears after being publicly called out by the singer ... TMZ has learned.

A rep for the actress tells us Alyssa reached out to Britney privately Wednesday to apologize after BS took to Instagram to slam a tweet of Alyssa's that she considered "bullying." As for how AM got the message across ... Brit sources tell us she sent a private message Britney's way this morning.

It's unclear if Britney reacted to Alyssa's apology, or what exactly Alyssa said in her message. We do know, however, that Alyssa expressed support for Britney in her correspondence.

ICYMI, Britney posted to her IG Story Tuesday, honing in on a tweet Alyssa fired off in December, which read ... "Someone please go check on Britney Spears." This is when she was off the radar and fans were concerned -- speculating she'd been re-conserved.

TMZ INVESTIGATES

In response, Britney wrote ... "It saddens me to see things about me from people who don't know me!!! This definitely feels like a form of bullying!!!" She added, "Ladies, we are supposed to be rooting for one another not pulling one another down!!!"

01/14/23
DINNER DISASTER
TMZ.com

Britney's been out in public since December, of course, but that outing didn't seem to go all that well ... at least from the outside looking in. Remember, we'd been told she appeared to be having a manic episode at a restaurant -- but both she and her husband denied it.

Whether it's in-person or online, it seems Britney doesn't want anyone to express worry about her -- even if it's well-intentioned.

Eagles' Josh Sills Allegedly Forced Woman To Perform Oral Sex In Truck

UPDATE

11:45 AM PT -- The NFL has placed Josh Sills on the Commissioner Exempt List in wake of the charges ... meaning the Eagles lineman will not be allowed to practice, play in games, or travel with the team until he's off of it.

Philadelphia Eagles offensive lineman Josh Sills allegedly forced a woman to perform oral sex on him for "approximately 20 minutes" in his truck back in 2019 ... this according to a new police report, obtained by TMZ Sports.

In the Guernsey County Sheriff's Office docs, cops say a woman told them the incident happened in Ohio at around 2 AM on Dec. 5, 2019 ... after Sills had given her and her cousin a ride back to her cousin's home from a local cafe.

Cops say the alleged victim, who was 21 years old at the time, told them as her cousin got out of the car -- Sills grabbed her by the arm and pulled her back in. The woman, according to the docs, said her cousin "did not think anything of it and shut the door and walked into the house."

In the report, authorities say the woman told them Sills then began his sexual assault, attempting to kiss her ... before grabbing her by the neck and throwing her down on the seat. The alleged victim said Sills unbuttoned her pants and began groping her -- all while she told him to stop repeatedly.

Cops say the woman told them Sills eventually sat up, grabbed her by the back of her neck and pulled her on top of him -- telling her, "she was doing this and was not leaving until she did this."

She claims, according to the report, that Sills then forced her to perform oral sex "until he did his thing." She asked him afterward if she could leave, according to the report, and after he told her "you will talk to me again," she got out of the truck and ran inside the home.

Cops say the woman told them Sills then left.

Police say in the report the woman had bruising in the back of her throat, her inner lip, her right ear and on the back of her left knee following the alleged assault. Cops said they did take photographs of her injuries.

According to the report, the woman had known Sills, who was also 21 years old at the time, for approximately seven or eight years ... and had attended high school with him.

As we reported, police conducted an investigation into it all ... and the NFL player was eventually indicted on one count of felony rape and one count of kidnapping on Wednesday.

He's due in court for a hearing in the case on Feb. 16 -- just four days after his Eagles team takes on the Chiefs in Super Bowl LVII.

It's not clear yet if the 25-year-old rookie reserve lineman will suit up for the game -- the Eagles said in a statement Wednesday afternoon, "The organization is aware of the legal matter involving Josh Sills. We have been in communication with the league office and are in the process of gathering more information. We have no further comment at this time."

Originally Published -- 11:30 AM PT

Tyre Nichols Memphis Funeral ... Al Sharpton Invokes MLK, Parents Call on Federal Law

I'M A MOUNTAIN CLIMBER

Tyre Nichols' life and memory were honored Wednesday at a public funeral held in Memphis after he was brutalized by police officers there ... and a lot of powerful sentiments were shared, including the notion that change needs to come in the form of legislation.

The funeral was held at the Mississippi Boulevard Christian Church, just outside downtown Memphis, where Rev. Al Sharpton eulogized Tyre. His remarks had just about everybody in attendance on their feet by the end of it ... and for good reason.

RAS started by shedding a spotlight on the families of other victims of police brutality, including the Floyds, the Garners, the Taylors and others -- who traveled to make an appearance, and who know what it's like to go through this. He also shouted out the Veep and other elected officials -- both locally and federally -- who showed face for the funeral.

NOT WHAT WE FOUGHT FOR

Moving on to Tyre, the reverend made an analogy to the parable of Joseph in the Well -- as told in the Bible -- and said the 5 officers who beat him that night were just like Joseph's brothers ... thinking that throwing him in the pit would solve their problems and quiet him down.

He went on to describe a point of heartbreaking irony about this tragedy happening in the city of Memphis -- where Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. was assassinated in 1968 during a trip where he worked towards getting Black people the right to join the public sector workforce... including the right to work in sanitation, as well as the police force.

He says the fact these 5 Black cops took the work MLK literally died for, and betrayed it by taking the life of one of their brothers is the ultimate slap in the face, aptly saying ... "How dare you?" He said they were "acting like the folks we had to fight against to get you there."

Sharpton hit the point home by saying Dr. King would be astounded to see how far African Americans have come in this country -- citing VP Kamala Harris' position -- but he would be outraged to see this instance of fellow Black men acting in this way. Finally, the Reverend's speech reached a crescendo when he said he was a mountain climber ... citing what kept him going.

WORDS FROM THE VP

VP Harris also shared words at Tyre's memorial after being introduced by Rev. Al Sharpton. She spoke directly to his parents, nodding to their strength and courage in the face of the tragedy ... a moment that drew a huge standing O.

She also talked about mothers around the world praying to God that their babies remain safe for the rest of their lives ... noting that Tyre's parents' own prayers were broken with the loss of his life. She condemned the police officers involved in his death in the strongest of terms ... saying their violence that night was not in line with the pursuit of public safety.

The Veep then called on Congress to pass the George Floyd Justice in Policing Act ... saying it was overdue. Her remarks were brief, but powerful -- and her presence there was strong.

swift justice

Civil rights attorney, Ben Crump spoke at the podium as well, and he pointed out something interesting -- praising the fact that the officers were fired/charged so quickly ... but noting, that needs to be the norm any time this happens ... regardless of the race of the officers.

Crump went down a list of people who've died at the hand of police, and said swift justice was needed in all of those instances too -- which wasn't always the case, as we know.

Of course, Tyre Nichols' family members gave emotional testimonials -- two of his sisters, two brothers and his parents spoke ... including his mother, who was weeping at the mic.

BLOOD ON THEIR HANDS

One sister noted how polite Tyre was, even while being brutalized -- and another sister read a moving poem she wrote about going home. His brothers said they had been robbed of the opportunity to know their sibling better ... but said his memory would live on.

Finally, his stepfather and mom addressed the congregation. His stepdad thanked everyone who had supported them through this time ... while also calling on legislative change so that this doesn't happen again.

Tyre's mother, RowVaughn Wells, hit that home firmly ... specifically saying the George Floyd Justice in Policing Act needs to be passed ASAP -- otherwise, she said, the next person to die in a similar fashion will have died in vain ... and their blood will be on Congress' hands.

The celebration of life comes just weeks after Tyre was pulled over in a traffic stop ... resulting in a foot pursuit and a horrific beating at the hands of 5 police officers. Body cam and surveillance video that was subsequently released shows the merciless treatment of Tyre as he pled for help.

SAVAGE BEATING
Memphis Police Department

After they were done with him, the officers left Tyre propped up on one of their squad cars and waited for EMTs to arrive ... who delivered slow and less-than-adequate assistance.

Tyre was hospitalized, and died from his injuries days later.

TMZ INVESTIGATES

In the aftermath, the 5 cops were fired and then criminally charged by a grand jury -- they all face second-degree murder charges ... as well as a slew of others, including kidnapping. Another two officers who are said to have been involved in the incident have since been suspended ... and some of the medical personnel who responded that night have been fired.

Protests and demonstrations have erupted nationwide after the footage was released, and a conversation about meaningful police reform in the country has been sparked anew.

Originally Published -- 10:45 AM PT

Ye And Wifey Enjoy Date Night ... No Face Shots, Please!!!

Kanye West is taking his new wife out on the town -- but he doesn't wanna be seen while he's doing it, which is why he's back in full face covering mode.

Rocking his best cat burglar-chic look, Ye and Bianca Censori hit up Beauty & Essex restaurant Tuesday night in Hollywood ... where the newlyweds seemed to be enjoying date night.

We say seems, because Bianca was on her phone and Ye's entire head and face were concealed, except for the eye holes in his knitted ski mask -- so, they were hardly wearing their emotions on their sleeves.

Ye kept quiet as they got into their vehicle -- a much different interaction with photogs than the one he had last week.

SWIFT EXIT
BACKGRID

As we reported ... he's been named a suspect in a battery investigation after a heated exchange with paparazzi, which ended up escalating to the point of Ye grabbing and throwing a woman’s phone.

No such drama last night.

Of course, we also saw the couple out recently for a Balenciaga shopping spree in Bev Hills. While Ye chose to flaunt a t-shirt tied to Nazi Germany that night ... he opted for simple black for the dinner date.

Upgrade, to say the least.

TMZ INVESTIGATES

TMZ broke the story, Ye and the former Yeezy designer tied the knot during a secret wedding ceremony within the last few months.

Remember, he had been MIA for a while after his string of anti-Semitic rants ... only to pop up again with Bianca and a wedding ring.

Vermont Youth Basketball 60-Year-Old Dead After Fight At Game ... Police Investigating

A 60-year-old man died following a wild brawl at a middle school basketball game in Vermont on Tuesday night ... and now, cops say they're investigating it all.

The fight broke out at the Alburgh Community Education Center in Alburgh ... during a hoops game that involved seventh and eighth-grade boys from Alburgh and St. Albans middle schools.

Video that was shot from the alleged scene shows several adults rushed onto the court -- kicking and punching each other -- all while the kids looked on from the sidelines.

It's unclear what sparked the melee ... Vermont State Police said in a statement Wednesday that when officers showed up to the scene just before 7 PM, the fracas had ended and several people involved in the tiff had already left the school.

Cops say Russell Giroux was injured during the fight, but elected to drive home. Giroux ended up stopping his car and calling first responders, and was transported to a nearby hospital. Tragically, he was pronounced dead at the medical facility. His body, cops say, will undergo an autopsy to determine the cause and manner of his death.

The VSP says it's now investigating the circumstances surrounding it all -- though no arrests have been made yet. They're asking anyone with information to come forward or call the Detective's Office at the St. Albans Barracks at 802-524-5993.

Both schools released statements Wednesday on the incident ... calling it all heartbreaking.

"All of us in the Maple Run Community are shocked and saddened by last night’s death of Russell Giroux after a physical altercation during a basketball game at the Alburgh Community Education Center," Alburgh M.S. officials said.

"We extend our condolences and sympathies to his family and friends. Since our students observed the altercation, we are working in the next days to support our students and families in dealing with the consequences of the altercation and Mr. Giroux's death."

Added St. Albans, "Our immediate goal is to remind and educate our students and families that our school culture is one of family, community, and kindness."

Old news is old news!
Be First!

Get TMZ breaking news sent right to your browser!