Crime

Alec Baldwin says his "Rust" contract makes him judgment proof in the fatal shooting of Halyna Hutchins ... and he goes on to blame her for the fatal incident.

Baldwin's lawyers filed an arbitration claim, alleging his deal shields him from any financial responsibility in connection with Hutchins' death. What's more ... the lawyers say Baldwin's legal fees must be covered by the production as well.

But that's not all. In the docs, Baldwin says Hutchins is the one who told him how to position the gun, saying, "She directed Baldwin to hold the gun higher, to a point where it was directed toward her. She was looking carefully at the monitor and then at Baldwin, and then back again, as she gave these instructions."

The lawyers go on ... "In giving and following these instructions, Hutchins and Baldwin shared a core, vital belief: that the gun was 'cold' and contained no live rounds."

The attorneys also say Baldwin asked Hutchins if she wanted him to pull back the hammer ... the lawyers say Hutchins responded in the affirmative.

And, there's this ... the docs reference Baldwin's interactions with Hutchins' husband, Matthew shortly after the shooting. When Hutchins hugged Baldwin, the actor's lawyers say Hutchins said, "I guess we're going to go through this together."

That relationship blew up after Baldwin sat down with ABC News and not only absolved himself of responsibility, but blamed Halyna.

The docs say it's not the actor's responsibility to check a gun for live ammo ... the lawyers say it's the armorist's job.

As for liability because of Baldwin's Executive Producer title, the lawyers say his contract indemnifies him. Besides, the lawyers say, Baldwin was just a creative E.P.

As we reported, there were numerous safety concerns on the set, to the point some of the crew staged a walk-off.

There's clearly a massive desire for the new collab between Burberry and Supreme ... so much so, shoppers trying to get the gear erupted into a massive brawl.

It all went down in Manhattan, as customers waited to snag some items from the brands' latest release. It's not clear exactly how the it all started, but it's obvious how it all ended ... fighting, shouting ... and utter chaos.

Check it out for yourself … one video shows a guy who is clearly pissed, shouting, "I'm still standing right here."

In another video, you can see fists thrown and more people pile on, while others hold their places in line.

One observer noted on Twitter that the brands made the collection first-come, first-serve ... so there was bound to be some drama.

Jussie Smollett's courtroom outburst isn't landing for Chicago Mayor Lori Lightfoot ... who is praising his 5-month jail sentence, condemning him for staging a hate crime and hoping his case is a warning to others.

After Jussie's sentencing, where he shouted he's innocent and left with a fist in the air, Mayor Lightfoot was totally unswayed, saying ... "The city feels vindicated in today's ruling that he is being held accountable and that we will appropriately receive restitution for his actions."

She also reminded everyone what that restitution will cover -- "The malicious and wholly fabricated claim made by Mr. Smollett resulted in over 1,500 hours of police work that cost the city over $130,000 in police overtime."

In other words, the Mayor's certain Smollett got exactly what he deserves at Thursday's sentencing.

Judge James Linn gave the ex-"Empire" actor 150 days in prison, 30 months of probation, a $25k fine and restitution of over $120k.

You'll recall ... Jussie told police he was the victim of a racist homophobic attack, back in 2019. He claimed 2 white men called him slurs, poured chemicals on him and put a noose around his neck.

Of course, brothers Abel and Ola Osundairo, who are Black, told cops the actor paid them to stage the entire "attack."

Jussie Smollett was just sentenced to 150 days in Jail for his elaborate hoax on the streets of Chicago ... and Jussie went off on the judge, telling him if he dies in prison it's not suicide. It got so intense, Jussie was taken into custody and left with his fist in the air.

Judge Linn just handed down the sentence ... which also includes 30 months felony probation, $120,106 restitution to the city of Chicago and will pay a $25,000 fine.

Judge Linn pointed to Jussie's testimony during trial, when he talked about his life ... and he talked about social justice and how much it meant to him and his family.  And, the judge noted the irony and hypocrisy that Jussie engineered a hate crime hoax.

Judge Linn says Jussie wasn't motivated by money ... he did it because he craved the attention and thought he could boost his profile by tapping into the social justice movement in America. He said he just wanted to make himself more famous, throwing himself a "national pity party."

The judge called Jussie arrogant, selfish, narcissistic, and he did damage to real victims of hate crimes. Victims are always reluctant to come forward, and Jussie did them no favors. The judge says Jussie lied ... lied and lied repeatedly about the incident.

The judge made it clear he was not sentencing Jussie to satisfy public opinion ... it was purely a matter of what Jussie did.  The judge said there was nothing he could do that would be worse than what he did to himself, saying Jussie destroyed his life by his shenanigans.

Jussie declined to speak in open court before sentencing ... his lawyer advised against it.

Jussie's 92-year-old grandma got on the stand to plead for leniency, and she launched on the media for not reporting the story accurately. She called him a "justice warrior," who has been steeped in social activism for years. She told the judge, if he sends Jussie to prison he should send her along with him.

The lawyer for the City of Chicago made it clear ... this was not a victimless crime, saying more than 30 Chicago cops investigated the case and had to review more than 1500 hours of surveillance video. They went door to door in the freezing cold to get to the bottom of the case. They amassed more than 1,000 in overtime, and it caused fatigue and stress. The lawyer also said Jussie has made real hate crime victims hesitant to come forward.

Jussie's lawyer made a series of arguments during the hearing, imploring the judge to throw out the verdict. Notably, his lawyer argued because of the pretrial publicity by City officials -- including the Police Commissioner -- Jussie did not enjoy the constitutional protection of being presumed innocent. The judge rejected that argument.

The judge also turned thumbs down on the argument Jussie was entitled to a public trial and that, his lawyer argued, was not the case. The special prosecutor fired back, even during a pandemic, the trial was open to reporters and also, the defense didn't want cameras in the courtroom during the trial, so it's rich they're making this argument now.

NFL cornerback Jeff Gladney -- a first-round pick in the 2020 NFL Draft -- was just found not guilty of assaulting his girlfriend, TMZ Sports has confirmed.

Court documents show a jury "unanimously" came to the decision in a Dallas County courtroom on Thursday afternoon.

As we previously reported, Gladney had been hit with a felony domestic violence charge back in August after he allegedly roughed up his GF in April following an argument over the contents of his phone.

In court documents, officials say Gladney's accuser told them the football player snapped on her ... hitting her, choking her and dragging her by her hair across the ground.

Gladney was not only released by the Vikings following the charge ... he was also facing up to 10 years behind bars if convicted.

Gladney's attorney, though, said after he was hit with the charge that the former TCU standout was innocent.

Gladney sat out all of the 2021 season with the case hanging over his head. He's still a free agent and is available to sign with any team.

Newport Beach Harbor looked more like a bumper boat's course after one man allegedly stole and crashed a multi-million-dollar yacht into other boats ... prompting a police response.

Check out the insane video, you see the man attempt to reverse, and then go forward in full speed -- wrecking into other vessels -- including a sailboat that totally loses its mast in the collision.

Law enforcement sources tell TMZ they got a call just after 10 AM Thursday morning for a "possible stolen vessel."

An eyewitness tells us a police boat eventually arrived on scene and got the boat stopped.

We don't yet know who the alleged thief is, or what his plan was in taking the boat.

More trouble for the Charlo twins ... TMZ Sports has learned officials are seeking an arrest warrant for Jermell Charlo after he was charged with making a terroristic threat in the fall.

According to court documents, the criminal charge stems from the same alleged Sept. 5, 2021 incident that Jermall Charlo, Jermell's twin brother, was arrested for last month.

Officials say in documents that a 21-year-old man claiming to be the boxing stars' cousin was roughed up by Jermall and threatened by Jermell during an incident at Jermall's Fort Bend County, Texas home.

In the docs, the alleged victim says Jermall punched him three times and grabbed his hair because he didn't get out of a utility task vehicle "quickly enough for [Jermall's] wife to go with her friends."

Officials say the alleged victim told them while the assault was taking place, Jermell threatened him by saying, "I will kill you with my bare hands."

In the docs, officials say the alleged victim complained of head pain and believed he suffered a concussion in the altercation.

Jermall was hit with a felony charge of assaulting a family/household member and he turned himself in to authorities in early February. He's due in court for a hearing on the matter later this month.

Jermell, meanwhile, has not yet been arrested over the misdemeanor terroristic threat charge, records show.

The twins' attorney, Kent Schaffer, previously told us the whole incident was "an attempt to shake Jermall down for money." When we reached out to him again for comment on the allegations against Jermell, he elaborated further.

Schaffer tells us Jermall was having a big party at his house ... when he says the alleged victim was "recklessly" riding around on a four-wheeler.

Schaffer says Jermall's wife tried to get the man to stop, and reached into the UTV to take the keys. But, Schaffer says the man took off, causing her to fall to the ground.

Schaffer says Jermall came out to defend his wife, and eventually pulled the man out of the vehicle, causing him to fall. Schaffer says Jermell them came out and told them to stop it all, but never made a threat.

"It's total garbage, 100 percent," Schaffer said of the claims against the twins. "We will win this fight in the first round."

Chris Brown is firing back at the woman who accused him of rape and sued him for $20 million -- insisting voicemails and texts she sent after their encounter prove it was consensual, and now the woman's lawyer is dropping her.

The string of texts began very shortly after he and the anonymous accuser hooked up on a yacht in Miami back in December 2020, and continued for several months. In the texts, Chris tells the woman she should take a Plan B pill after their encounter, and she responds that she will, and adds ... "I wanna f**k u tonight at midnight lol."

Months later, after she and Chris apparently talked about meeting up again, but never did, the woman sends a nude selfie and says "U were honestly the best d**k I've had 😭 lol i just want it again."

When Chris didn't respond, she seemed to get peeved, texting ... "U knew full well I wasn't pressing u bout no d**k. U told me to stay and then gonna try to play me? Nah that's crazy i didn't deserve that but u def got it."

In a voicemail, which Chris posted on his IG, she says, "I just want to see you again ... just let me know. If you want me to leave you alone, I will. But I really just wanna f**k the s**t again."

Chris clearly feels vindicated, and said on social media ... "No more dragging me through the mud. CLEARLY YOU CAN ALL SEE THE (blue cap emoji)." He says he's planning to sue the accuser because, "You don't play with people's lives like that."

TMZ broke the story ... the woman accused Chris of drugging her during the yacht party, and taking her into a bedroom and raping her.

We spoke with the accuser's lawyer, Ariel Mitchell, and she confirms the woman sent Chris the texts and voicemail. She tells TMZ she's withdrawing from the case because she says the woman had not informed her about the messages.

Russia's devastating invasion of Ukraine is now taking a direct toll on what should have been a safe haven for kids -- a maternity and children's hospital is in complete shambles.

After the attack -- which appears to have been a direct hit -- President Zelenskyy tweeted out video from inside the hospital, showing the devastation ... and calling it an absolute atrocity.

Zelensky also noted there were several children and adults still trapped under the wreckage and asked, "How much longer will the world be an accomplice ignoring terror?"

He referenced the calls for NATO and/or the U.S. to institute a no-fly zone over his country, saying ... "Close the sky right now! Stop the killings! You have power but you seem to be losing humanity."

It's unclear at this point what the casualties are at the hospital. Sadly, it's just the latest building taken down in Putin's gruesome invasion.

Queretaro, the Mexican soccer team who played host to one of the craziest brawls in recent sports history, was just hit with severe punishment for Saturday's incident ... and will now have to play games in an empty stadium for a year.

As we previously reported, dozens of people were injured, some severely, after a melee broke out during the Queretaro vs. Atlas soccer game at Estadio Corregidora last weekend.

After an investigation, officials in Mexico handed down the punishment on Tuesday ... and they didn't take it easy.

The current Queretaro ownership group has been banned from the league for 5 years ... and the club's previous owners, Grupo Caliente, will lead the charge in finding a new group to purchase the team. If Grupo Caliente can't find a buyer, Liga MX will take over the reins.

On top of the change in ownership, Queretaro will be forced to pay $1.5 million pesos ($70,000) in fines.

The scene was brutal -- fans began fighting in the stands during the match ... and it eventually spilled onto the field, causing the officials to stop the game.

What's in the box?!? Well, it depends who's asking ... because someone stole a box of disembodied human heads -- intended for medical research -- from a company truck in Denver.

And no, we're not kidding!!! Denver Police are investigating after they received a report on March 3 about a theft from a 'Freight Company' truck. Let's put it this way ... the thieves are in for the shock of their lives.

Police say, an unknown suspect or suspects stole a blue and white box of human heads from the parked truck. It happened about a week ago, but cops are now talking about it.

It's unclear if the thief knew the box had human heads inside, but cops say it had a label that said "Exempt Human Specimen."

The case is bizarre ... and has rightly spooked nearby residents.

So far, no arrests have been made ... and, police aren't sure what the suspect(s) might use the heads for or where the heads are headed.

That said, if anyone finds a box containing human heads, they are encouraged to call the Denver Police Department at 720-913-2000 ... after, of course, they come to.

We've seen buildings getting blown to bits from the outside looking in as Russia continues to invade Ukraine -- but here's a peak at the horror from behind closed doors.

This goes without saying ... but it doesn't go without showing. These are photos from inside homes and businesses hit by mortar and missiles throughout the besieged country -- and as you can see, it's utter devastation.

One shot appears to show a gym that's been decimated ... equipment destroyed and scattered about ... totally covered in ash and soot.

There's even some fires that are still going as a result of whatever attack this edifice endured -- again ... just giving you a sense of how bad the property damage is on the ground.

The same can be said for individual people's homes ... which are being turned upside down amid the conflict, with drawers being blown out ... and personal items and debris thrown every which way indoors. Those who are still around are trying to pick up the pieces.

Of course, this is to be expected considering the types of weaponry being unleashed onto the Ukrainian people at the hands of the Russians -- specifically, under the orders of Vladimir Putin. You hear about this stuff, but seeing it is a whole other story.

The combat sports world is rallying behind Cain Velasquez ... with huge names like Dana White, Khabib Nurmagomedov, Henry Cejudo, Kamaru Usman, Rey Mysterio, and more calling on the judge in the UFC legend's case to let him out of jail.

TMZ Sports has learned over 30 people -- many famous -- penned letters to Judge Shelyna Brown asking her to let Velasquez post bail, which would allow him to mount his defense from home, not a cell.

In addition to the UFC honcho and the guys above, others like Bellator boss Scott Coker, Bellator heavyweight champ Ryan Bader, UFC contender Kelvin Gastelum, UFC lightweight contender Islam Makhachev, UFC featherweight contender Yair Rodriguez, former UFC flyweight champ Brandon Moreno (and many more) sent letters to Judge Brown.

Unfortunately for Velasquez -- who was charged with attempted murder, aggravated assault, and other charges -- it doesn't seem the letters swayed the judge.

Brown denied Cain bail, saying his alleged actions were "reckless," and the "risk is too great" to allow the future UFC Hall of Famer out of county jail.

But, it's the reason behind those so-called "reckless" actions that has motivated so many people -- from stars in the MMA world to ordinary people -- to demand Cain's release.

Velasquez is accused of attempting to kill a man named Harry Goularte ... after the 43-year-old was arrested for allegedly molesting a member of Cain's family -- possibly multiple times.

Now, barring the prosecution changing its position, Velasquez will sit in a jail cell until at least April 12, when he is scheduled to again stand before the judge.

NFL star Richard Sherman just cut a plea deal with prosecutors to close out his infamous trespass case ... and TMZ Sports has learned as part of the agreement, he won't have to serve any more time behind bars if he keeps his nose clean going forward.

According to court documents, Sherman pleaded guilty to one count of negligent driving and one count of criminal trespass on Monday.

In exchange, Sherman was sentenced to 90 days in jail, though he was given credit for 2 days time served, and the remaining 88 days are suspended.

Sherman was also sentenced to monitored supervision for 24 months, and he was also ordered to pay a $500 fine for speeding in a construction zone.

As we reported, Sherman had been facing multiple criminal charges after he allegedly drove drunk, crashed his car, and then exploded at his in-laws' home in Redmond, Wash. in July.

During the alleged incident, Sherman was accused of trying to violently break into his wife's parents' house ... and then fighting with cops after they confronted him outside of the home.

Cops say they eventually had to use a police K9 to ultimately take him down.

Sherman apologized for the whole ordeal shortly after the incident, saying in a statement, "I behaved in a manner I am not proud of."

"I have been dealing with some personal challenges over the last several months, but that is not an excuse for how I acted."

Sherman went on to sign with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers following the arrest, though he was placed on injured reserve in January after playing in just five games.

A plan to sell counterfeit Patrick Mahomes Super Bowl rings has been thwarted ... feds just announced they seized a bunch of fake K.C. Chiefs title bling in a huge bust in Louisville.

U.S. Customs and Border Protection announced Monday that officers intercepted a package that they say contained a small fortune-worth of fake Mahomes merch as well as other counterfeit sports memorabilia.

According to the CBP, the package -- which came from China and was heading toward Florida -- contained 30 fake Tampa Bay Buccaneers Super Bowl rings, 110 fake Atlanta Braves World Series rings, 10 fake Milwaukee Bucks NBA championship rings and 80 fake Kansas City Chiefs Super Bowl rings.

In a photo of some of the seized "jewelry" ... you can see Mahomes' name was engraved on some of the merch, along with his number and the words "Chiefs Kingdom."

The CBP said in total, the package was worth $345,000.

Russia might have an enemy on its hands that's more effective than any other adversary, and that's Anonymous ... which claims to have hijacked Vladimir Putin's regularly scheduled propaganda programming.

The notorious hacking group -- which has been involved in high-profile leaks over the years -- is taking responsibility for the mass disruption of multiple Russian TV broadcasts this weekend ... including a couple of popular streaming services and even some state media channels.

Instead of whatever several news networks were supposed to be playing ... reports and videos on the ground appear to show Anonymous aired real war footage from Ukraine. That's significant because most Russians don't even believe there's a war, or don't see it as Russian aggression.

The hacking would mean Putin's citizens got to see real footage of Ukrainian civilians bombed and forced to flee their homes.

Reportedly, 70 percent of Russians support the invasion of Ukraine, but Russian-run TV has been blasting out the narrative that their country is fighting Nazism and saving Ukraine.

So, to disrupt that thinking ... Anonymous seems to have taken the incredible step of showing them what they're definitely not being exposed to, and hopefully it's a wake-up call. Even if it is though ... Russians face stiff penalties for protesting the war, including years of jail time.

Anonymous sent a message to Putin in late February threatening action like this, and the group claims it's followed through.