F1's Charles Leclerc $320K Richard Mille Watch Stolen Investigation Underway
12:13 PM PT -- TMZ Sports has confirmed Leclerc's watch was stolen while out in Viareggio ... and an investigation is underway.
Formula 1 superstar Charles Leclerc reportedly had his $320,000 Richard Mille watch snatched right from his wrist during a photo op with fans in Italy ... but thankfully, the driver was allegedly unharmed.
Leclerc -- who's off to an incredible 2022 for Ferrari and sitting atop the driver standings -- was with his friends and trainer, Andrea Ferrari, in Viareggio on Monday when the incident happened, according to the report.
Motorsport.com says the 24-year-old was walking around Via Salvatori at 10 PM when he was recognized by fans, who asked for a pic.
After posing for a shot with the group, Leclerc realized his watch was taken ... and reported it to police.
Andrea went to social media shortly after the alleged theft to complain about the area being poorly lit ... calling for the street lamps to get fixed.
Of course, Leclerc has had a partnership with RM for years ... and even has his own signature watch. On top of that, Richard Mille became an official sponsor for Leclerc's Ferrari team ... so it won't be too hard to get a replacement.
Leclerc is in Italy for the Emilia Romagna Grand Prix ... which is set to go down on Sunday.
Scary situation ... but the guy was back to meeting with fans just hours later -- posing for pics, although it's unclear if he was wearing any extra jewelry.
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We've reached out to Ferrari for comment ... so far, no word back.
Originally Published -- 9:49 AM PT
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Boxer Amir Khan Robbed At Gunpoint ... Alleged Suspects Caught On Video
Scary moment for boxer Amir Khan ... the former champ says he was robbed at gunpoint on Monday night while walking with his wife, Faryal Makhdoom, after dinner in East London.
And, the alleged suspects were caught on video!
Khan spoke about the terrifying incident on social media ... saying two men approached him as he was walking across the street with Faryal in Leyton -- a town about 45 minutes east of London.
"I crossed the road with Faryal, luckily she was few steps behind me," Khan said, "2 men ran to me, one holding a gun from afar and one had the gun pointing to my head asking for my watch."
"The main thing is we’re both safe."
Faryal -- who married Khan in 2013 -- shared footage of the alleged suspects on Tuesday ... highlighting two men getting out of a car, saying, "they knew exactly what time we walked out."
"Seems like a set up to me. Considering we didn't even post where we were."
Faryal also posted the Franck Muller watch they say was stolen -- along with the serial number -- "incase it goes around we can find out who's done this."
If you're not familiar with Franck Muller watches ... they're a Swiss luxury watchmaker. Their timepieces can range from anywhere between a few grand to upwards of $100k and beyond.
As you'd expect, Khan is pissed off over the alleged robbery ... saying he couldn't sleep in an Instagram video, but is ultimately just happy he and his wife are okay.
"I was a bit mad," Khan said, adding ... "Glad everyone was safe. I'm all good, me and the wife."
The Metropolitan Police tell us they're investigating, but cautioned they were in the "very early stage" ... and no arrests have been made at this time.
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Jacqueline Avant Prosecutor Says Murderer Bragged To Friends About Killing
Aariel Maynor, the man that shot and killed Jacqueline Avant, bragged to his friends over the phone from jail after murdering the 81-year-old philanthropist ... this according to the prosecutor seeking to lock him up for the rest of his life.
According to court documents, obtained by the Los Angeles Times, Maynor laughed about all the publicity he's been getting to a friend during a jail call ... she didn't think it was funny, telling him he shouldn't be joking about someone's life. He told her it was all over the news, wondering "You think my mama's seen that, though?"
He told her he expected to get $50K from the Avant's house before the robbery went south.
He reportedly called another friend from jail and told them he expected to only serve a max of 25 years because the prosecutors did not file a so-called "special circumstances" murder charge -- which could've resulted in life without parole, or even the death penalty.
As we reported, Maynor broke into the Avants' Beverly Hills home in December, opening fire on Jacqueline with his assault long barrel pistol. She was taken to a hospital but died of her injuries.
12/1/21
Police caught Maynor an hour later ... after he was found attempting to burglarize another home in the Hollywood Hills but accidentally shot himself in the foot.
Maynor pleaded guilty in March to murder, attempted murder, possession of a firearm by a felon and two counts of burglary ... the D.A. is seeking 150 years to life for the murder charge plus a consecutive 43-year term for the other crimes.
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Coachella 2022 Weekend 1 Arrests Up Since 2019 ... Drug & Booze Busts, Etc.
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Weekend 1 of Coachella 2022 is in the books -- and after a 2-year hiatus, it seems folks were itching to land in some trouble with the law ... turns out, arrests were up!
The Indio Police Dept. just released hard numbers describing the alleged scoundrels they encountered Fri-Sun -- the first time Coachella had happened since 2019 -- and wouldn't you know it ... they slapped handcuffs on quite a few more people than the last time around.
There were a total of 112 arrests this year -- up 13% from the 99 arrests they made during Weekend 1 in 2019 -- and they issued a helluva lot more citations in 2022 as well ... 72 of them, in fact, which is 41% more than what they handed out in 2019 for the same window.
If you're wondering how exactly that data breaks down -- well, IPD has that info for you too ... there were 85 drug/alcohol/intoxication busts this year, 15 false ID arrests, 3 instances of folks allegedly possessing drugs for sale and 9 property crimes for which they hauled someone in.
On the citation front ... 54 slips were written for people cops say used bogus handicap placards, and 18 that were drawn up for attendees actually parking in handicap spots.
Now, the upside ... Indio Police say traffic congestion was kept in check -- thanks to a team effort from neighboring law enforcement agencies and partners -- and there were no major concert-related incidents.
So, all in all ... a pretty successful first weekend in the desert, minus all these other arrests they're mentioning. While they're not ideal, it doesn't seem like there were any crazy assaults or crimes of the like ... seems as though people were mostly getting trashed on their own accord.
Success!(?)
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U.S. Sled Hockey Paralympian Three Gold Medals Stolen From Car ... Alleged Suspect Caught On Video
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Paralympian Jen Lee's three Paralympic gold medals were stolen from his car over the weekend -- and JL asked for the public's help by sharing footage of the alleged thief in action.
And, it worked ... 'cause the medals have been found!
The incident happened Saturday when the U.S. hockey sled player says someone broke into his Tesla as it was parked in his San Antonio garage.
"First time for everything," Lee said via Instagram.
"Got my car broken into, and all my Paralympic gold medals stolen. Not 1, not two, but 🥇🥇🥇☹😭"
The 35-year-old athlete shared surveillance video of the alleged suspect in action -- and you can see a man in a black Levi's shirt, shorts and tan cap walk up to Lee's vehicle.
He then started breaking into the back passenger side window with the help of a tool that he used to break the glass.
Once it shattered, the man is seen running off with Lee's "USA" backpack that contained his three gold medals from the 2014, 2018 and 2022 Winter Paralympics.
Lee -- whose left leg was amputated (above the knee) after a motorcycle crash in 2009 -- was the starting goalie in this year's games.
"Just want to share this as I’m seeking for help," Lee said, "and see how I can get my gold medals back."
Well, great news ... the medals were found at a local fire dept. station.
"The Officers were able to confirm that the three gold medals were the same medals that had been stolen a day prior and were in immediate contact with the victim - Jen Lee," a San Antonio PD rep told us on Monday.
"It is unknown who dropped off the medals at the fire station."
Despite Jason receiving his medals, SAPD says they're still actively investigating the alleged theft.
The suspect has not yet been identified.
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DaBaby Bowling Brawl Case Hits Roadblock, Victim Has Gone South
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The investigation into DaBaby's bowling alley fight has hit a snag ... and we're told, oddly enough, the alleged victim is the reason.
Law enforcement sources tell TMZ ... the investigation into DaBaby's bowling alley brawl with DaniLeigh's brother, Brandon Bills, has hit an unexpected roadblock because the alleged victim is no longer cooperating with police.
We're told, even though much of the fight was caught on camera, it's very difficult to move forward without a victim.
As we showed you, DaBaby and his crew got into a massive fight with Brandon at a CA bowling alley, back in February. Cops were on the case, after video footage seemingly showed the "Suge" rapper throwing the first punch ... before his crew gets involved.
After reviewing the footage, police reportedly opened an investigation into the rapper.
ICYMI, beef between DaBaby and Brandon escalated ... after Brandon's sister, DaniLeigh -- DaBaby's baby mama -- publicly aired some issues. At one point, DaBaby and DaniLeigh got into a blowout fight and DaniLeigh was arrested for assault.
We're told the bowling alley investigation remains active but isn't going anywhere at the moment ... because Bills isn't working with police.
No word on why Bills isn't cooperating ... but of course, he could change his mind.
Last week, DaBaby shot a trespasser on his North Carolina property. In the 911 audio following the shooting, DaBaby talked back to the dispatcher and told them he'd refuse to put his gun down when cops arrived.
The trespasser went to the hospital with non-life-threatening injuries.
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Dolphin Death Stabbed in Head ... Washes Up on Florida Beach
There are some really twisted people out there on the high seas ... because a dead dolphin washed up on a Florida beach, and it had been fatally stabbed in the head.
Beachgoers in Fort Myers stumbled upon the female bottlenose dolphin's dead body late last month ... and there was a gash above the marine mammal's right eye.
It's horrific ... the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration says a necropsy shows the dolphin was impaled in the head with a spear-like object while it was still alive.
Even worse, the NOAA says the dolphin appears to have been stabbed while in a begging position ... which is not a natural behavior for dolphins and is commonly associated with illegal feeding.
The dolphin was an adult lactating female ... and NOAA says violent acts towards dolphins are on the rise in the Gulf of Mexico. The feds say this is at least the 27th dolphin since 2002 to wash up on land with evidence of wounds from guns, arrows or sharp objects.
Law enforcement is investigating and asking the public for help finding these scumbags.
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DaBaby Shows Love for Trespasser ... 'Just Don't Bring Ya Ass Back!!!'
DaBaby's feeling good about not using lethal force while thwarting that intruder on his property, and he's even sending well-wishes to the man as he recovers from the shooting.
As we reported, the rapper says he was defending himself and his home when he opened fire on an intruder he says scaled a wall on his North Carolina compound.
Now, DaBaby's cheekily wishing the trespasser the best, saying ... "Chose not to take a n***a life the other day & it felt great.👍🏾 Buddy ain't deserve to go, I step righteously. Heal up & live my boy! Just don't bring ya ass back💥"
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DaBaby's message seems to reference a scene -- starring Cam'ron and Wood Harris -- in the 2002 cult classic film "Paid in Full" ... produced by Jay-Z and Dame Dash.
Law enforcement sources told TMZ the Platinum-selling rapper exchanged words with the trespasser before shooting him in the leg ... and then called 911. He had a pretty wild convo with the operator, pressing cops to come get the man, who was in the background screaming in pain.
Meanwhile, DaBaby is already keeping things moving ... looking past the shooting, and looking forward to his Friday night appearance at the Platinum Club in Dallas.
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Angela Simmons Ex-Fiance's Killer Gets Life In Prison ... Angela Speaks In Court
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The man convicted of murdering Angela Simmons' ex-fiance has been sentenced to life in prison ... and she gave an emotional speech to the court just before the sentencing.
Angela spoke about the 5-year-old son she and the late Sutton Tennyson had together, saying he constantly asks her when his dad will come back.
She told the judge she cried all the time, knowing how excited Sutton was about raising their kid ... adding her son will forever wonder what it would be like to grow up with a dad.
Angela says Sutton's gone but never forgotten, and his son -- who shares his first name -- will carry his legacy.
Michael Williams was sentenced to life for murder, as well as an additional 15 years for possession of a firearm by a convicted felon. He'll be eligible for parole after serving a minimum 30 years behind bars.
As we reported, cops found Angela's fiancé dead in his garage with multiple gunshot wounds back in 2018. Police say he was talking in the driveway with another man when the conversation got heated and he was shot.
Williams turned himself in a few days later and was charged with 8 counts, including murder, aggravated assault with a deadly weapon, and possession of a firearm.
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Report: Cowboys Kelvin Joseph Person Of Interest In Murder Investigation ... 20-Year-Old Gunned Down
11:59 AM PT -- The Dallas Cowboys have released a statement on CB Kelvin Joseph.
"The Dallas Cowboys are aware of the tragic incident that occurred in Dallas on March 18. First and foremost, our hearts go out to Mr. Ray's family and loved ones. The organization is aware of Kelvin Joseph's possible connection to this incident."
"We are in contact with Dallas law enforcement and have alerted the NFL office. We have no further comment at this time."
Cowboys cornerback Kelvin Joseph is a person of interest in a homicide investigation, according to various reports ... and now detectives in Dallas want to talk to the 2nd-round draft pick about a shooting that left a man dead.
The tragic shooting occurred on March 18 in Dallas. 20-year-old Cameron Ray -- a Lower Greenville, Texas native -- was in Dallas with his buddies for a fun weekend. However, the night took a terrible turn when another group of men picked a fight with Cameron's group. Ray was NOT the aggressor, according to police.
After the altercation ended, Ray and his friends began to walk to their car, when an SUV, driven by the men who'd just jumped the group, opened fire, striking and killing Cameron, according to cops.
The group police believe was behind the shooting was caught on surveillance video ... and Dallas PD believes Joseph to be one of the men who are seen around the time of the homicide, according to Yahoo.
According to ESPN, one of the men involved in the fight was wearing a necklace with a pendant reading "YKDV." Kelvin's rap name is reportedly "YKDV Bossman Fat."
Dallas police detectives say Ray was a man who did absolutely nothing wrong, and needlessly had his life taken.
"He was enjoying himself, doing nothing wrong, but that night, as it ended, he was walking with some friends. They encountered a disturbance that they did not start," DPD Detective Tonya McDaniel said.
We reached out to the Cowboys ... who declined comment.
But, Yahoo says they've spoken with sources inside the organization who reportedly told the outlet they were aware of the investigation, and had urged Joseph to speak with authorities.
Joseph -- who played college ball at LSU before transferring to Kentucky -- was the 44th overall pick in the 2021 NFL Draft. Kelvin played in 10 games for the Cowboys last season, racking up 16 tackles and 2 pass deflections.
Story developing ...
Originally Published -- 8:55 AM PT
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DaBaby 911 Audio After Shooting ... Intruder Screaming in Pain
DaBaby called 911 after shooting a trespasser who entered his North Carolina estate, and you hear the trespasser writhing in pain and DaBaby giving the 911 dispatcher lip.
DaBaby is standing right next to the guy he had just shot in the leg, who is whaling as the dispatcher solicits info. The rapper says the trespasser clearly knew it was his property because he mentioned him by name.
The dispatcher wants to know the condition of the trespasser, and when he asks if the shooting victim is alert, DaBaby goes on on him, saying, "Do you not hear this man, bro?"
DaBaby follows it up by advising the dispatcher not to ask the same question over and over.
Then the dispatcher asks DaBaby to secure his weapon, and the rapper makes it clear it's plenty secure in his hand. He refuses to put the gun down because the trespasser could still be a threat and there may others out there.
The trespasser was taken to a nearby hospital. His wound is not life-threatening.
BTW ... North Carolina is a stand your ground state, so DaBaby may not have violated the law by shooting the guy.
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DaBaby Sources Say He Pulled Trigger In Shooting At NC Property
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6:31 PM PT -- DaBaby was at the center of the shooting at his North Carolina estate ... because we're told he's the one who pulled the trigger.
Our law enforcement sources tell us the rapper exchanged words with an intruder and shot the man in the leg. We're told DaBaby then called 911 and was cooperative with cops when they arrived.
DaBaby was home when someone was shot at on his North Carolina estate, and he was involved in the incident ... TMZ has learned.
Law enforcement sources tell us someone came onto the property without permission and they got shot. We're also told DaBaby was present when this all went down -- however, we don't know the level of his involvement.
We're told police have made no arrests, and all the evidence will be turned over to the District Attorney.
The Troutman Police Department says officers responded to reports of a shooting Wednesday night and when officers arrived at the scene they found someone who'd suffered a non-life threatening gunshot wound.
Cops say the shooting victim was transported to a medical facility for treatment.
Troutman town manager Ron Wyatt tells TMZ ... the shooting occurred at a compound where DaBaby occasionally stays, and people can't just walk onto the property by accident. Our sources say one of the DaBaby's relatives is listed as the owner of the estate.
Wyatt says there's a wall around the compound and DaBaby has security guards.
We've reached out to DaBaby's reps, no word back so far.
Story developing ...
Originally Published -- 8:49 AM PT
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War in Ukraine Dock You Putin ... Largest Superyacht in World Seized
A Russian superyacht nearly 2 times the length of a football field is now in the hands of Germany after being seized as a consequence of Russian's attack on Ukraine.
The yacht is owned by Gulbakhor Ismailova, the sister of Russian oligarch Alisher Usmanov, one of Russian's richest citizens and a close advisor to Putin, particularly on economic issues.
The yacht is beyond ... 512-feet long, with just about every bell and whistle imaginable, including an 80-foot pool and not 1 but 2 helipads. It cost more than $648 million.
The Yacht -- named Dilbar -- is now impounded in a Hamburg, Germany shipyard.
The yacht is flagged in the Caymans and registered to a company in Malta ... this is the drill followed by many of the super rich.
Other expensive toys of Russian oligarchs have been seized, including yachts and private jets, but Dilbar may be the crown jewel.
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Miya Ponsetto 'SoHo Karen' Got Off Easy Cause She's Not Black Says Victim's Dad, Ben Crump
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Miya Ponsetto, AKA "SoHo Karen," got off easy and it would be much different if she were a Black person ... so says, Ben Crump and Keyon Harrold.
Keyon Harrold and his attorney, Ben Crump, tell TMZ ... they believe if the roles were reversed and Miya was a Black woman, who assaulted a white teen, then her punishment would've been harsher.
As we've previously reported, Miya Ponsetto was charged with a hate crime ... after she attacked Keyon Harrold's 14-year-old son, Keyon Harrold Jr., and falsely accused him of stealing her phone at a SoHo hotel in 2020.
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Miya ended up copping a plea deal Monday ... pleading guilty to a felony hate crime charge but avoiding any jail time. Instead, she's agreed to stay out of trouble for 2 years and continue with counseling.
Keyon says to make matters worse, "she's never gone on the record to apologize to my son, not once. It's traumatic to even think about, there's trauma every time this is brought up and triggering to my entire family."
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Ben says it all boils down to Black people getting much harsher punishments than White folks ... "The institutions produce the same outcomes: Black people get the most of injustice and the least of justice. No matter who is in the office."
Moving forward, Ben and Keyon also think the Arlo Hotel should be held accountable for their role during the incident, when she wasn't even a guest.
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Cuba Gooding Jr. Cops Plea in Sexual Misconduct Case
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Cuba Gooding Jr. copped a plea deal in his sexual misconduct case ... and it means he's going to avoid jail time, as long as he keeps his nose clean.
The actor, who was facing 6 misdemeanor charges for 3 separate alleged incidents, pled guilty Wednesday to one count of forcible touching. That charge is for the 2019 case where a woman claimed Gooding kissed her without consent at New York City's LAVO nightclub.
JUNE 2019
Remember, a grand jury indicted Gooding in that case ... after he'd been arrested for another allegation. A different accuser said he had touched her breast without consent while they were at a rooftop bar in the Big Apple.
The case also included allegations from a server at TAO Downtown who said Cuba pinched her buttocks in 2018 after making a sexually suggestive remark to her.
As we reported, Cuba wanted the whole indictment tossed out of court and initially pled not guilty to all 6 counts, but he ended up taking a plea deal.
Prosecutors say Cuba's plea deal calls for him to continue the alcohol and behavior modification treatment he began in 2019 for 6 more months, and he can't have any new arrests.
If Cuba follows the terms, we're told he can change the plea to harassment in the second degree, and get a sentence of time served -- but if he doesn't comply, he faces up to one year in jail.
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Brooklyn Subway Shooting Suspect Frank James' Disturbing Videos ... Lots of Radical, Violent Views
The man cops now call a suspect in the Brooklyn subway shooting has a disturbing history of YouTube videos with radical views ... which foreshadow violence.
Frank James' YT page has been pored over in the past 24 hours -- following the NYPD naming him as the main guy they wanna talk to right now in the wake of 10 people getting shot in a train car Tuesday morning.
The content found has been troubling, to say the least ... with several videos that tout extremist rhetoric and out-there stances on topics like race, COVID, crime and politics.
In one such clip, labeled "STOP ONE COMPLETE," James says "you oughta die," among other alarming quotes. To be frank, a lot of his rants don't make much sense -- but he seems quite agitated by the state of affairs in 2022 ... and he invokes violent language to talk about much of it.
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There's also one very scary video that shows James inside of a subway car -- where he's filming people and the goings-on. The clip seems to be pre-2020, and it's labeled "THE GOOD OLE DAYS."
His videos don't have too many views and he has few to no subscribers ... so he was definitely talking into a void of sorts. And yet, they're being widely circulated now as cops look for this man.
As we reported ... upwards of 30 people were treated for injuries Tuesday. There are also reports of smoke inhalation ... as the shooter appears to have used a flashbang of some kind to obscure people's vision.
The aftermath was a bloody mess, with bodies and blood strewn all throughout the platform once the train finally arrived to its stop.
Fortunately, no fatalities yet and none are expected. A manhunt is underway for the perp ... and NYC Mayor Adams has called for a national response to gun violence as a result. He also said there'd be changes on the city level ... including more officers in the subway.