Crime

Luigi Mangione, the charged killer in the Brian Thompson murder case, enjoyed a privileged life ... but folks who know him say he also had a dark side.

We go inside Luigi's mind in a TMZ documentary that is now officially up on YouTube ... and if you haven't seen it yet, now's your chance to catch up on some shocking details.

Sources close to Luigi told us how Mangione became radicalized before quietly plotting to kill a healthcare CEO ... allegedly turning into an assassin despite a charismatic personality.

It's the penultimate day of witness testimony in Diddy's criminal trial in New York ... and his defense is kicking the tires on some interesting strategies ... including invoking the Iran war.

Prosecutors and Diddy's defense team spent Monday questioning a special agent with Homeland Security Investigations ... the agency that started this whole Diddy sex trafficking case.

Nothing really new in terms of testimony but the most interesting stuff happened when there was no witness on the stand ... the defense told the judge it plans to rest its case Tuesday after prosecutors rest their case, without calling Diddy or any defense witnesses to testify.

Diddy's defense says he's a victim of Uncle Sam's bedroom policing ... and prosecutors released a bunch of new exhibits showing what the feds say Diddy stockpiled ... sexy lingerie, stripper heels and whips.

Check out this trove of photos federal prosecutors have submitted as evidence in Diddy's criminal trial ... it's basically a sex shop, with fishnet panties, stockings and a bunch of other things folks use to have kinky sex.

One of the photos shows the lingerie laid out on a big cushion ... next to five pairs of high heels ... with some red-lighting for extra dramatic effect.

Many of Diddy's former Bad Boy artists have either been silent or critical of his racketeering and sex trafficking case -- but not G. Dep.

The NYC-born rapper, who once had Diddy and the whole world "Harlem shaking" through their "Let's Get It" hit record, tells TMZ Hip Hop he can't distance himself from his former mentor in good conscience -- so he's supporting him outside the courtroom!!!

After all, G. Dep is an Honest Abe ... he confessed to a cold case murder in 2010, resulting in a conscience-cleansing 13-year prison sentence, from which he was released in April 2024.

Iran may be the key to Diddy's defense in his sex trafficking trial ... because we're told his defense may use the growing conflict in the Middle East as a way to take a shot at the federal case against him.

Our sources tell us Diddy's defense may invoke the recent conflict with Iran later this week in their closing argument.

We're told the possible defense goes like this ... this was a manufactured case of bedroom police instigated by Homeland Security Investigations and rather than worrying about what Diddy is doing with baby oil and lube, HSI should worry more about the escalating conflict with Iran.

Diddy is NOT going to take the stand and testify in his criminal trial ... because his defense team plans to rest their case Tuesday without calling any witnesses.

There was some question before the trial whether or not Diddy would testify -- his attorney Marc Agnifilo told us he didn't think he could keep Diddy off the stand -- and now we have our answer.

Frankly, the defense would be taking a huge risk in putting Diddy on the stand, where he'd be subject to cross-examination from some of the best prosecutors in the country ... but it looks like the defense feels they don't need to do a whole lot to counter the prosecution.

Police shot and wounded a suspected gun-toting teenager near a community pool in Ohio — and the violence was all caught on video.

The Columbus PD released body camera footage last week showing the dramatic June 11 police shooting at Lincoln Park Pool and Barack Community Center.

As you can see, the incident kicks off with an officer responding to gunshots she hears while on patrol in the pool area.

TMZ Sports has learned the dishes Ippei Mizuhara will be chowing down on during his stint in prison ... and, sadly for Shohei Ohtani's ex-interpreter, peanuts and Cracker Jacks ain't on the menu.

According to a Federal Bureau of Prisons spokesperson ... FCI Allenwood Low -- the Pennsylvania prison where Mizuhara has been in custody since Monday -- follows the National Menu, which means Mizuhara will have a choice of a set of rotating meals to munch on for the foreseeable future.

Every day, Mizuhara will get breakfast, lunch and dinner ... giving the 40-year-old access to most of America's food staples.

Prosecutors just released text messages they say show a Diddy escort getting detailed instructions for a paid trip to participate in a marathon freak-off.

Federal prosecutors did another document dump of exhibits in Diddy's racketeering and sex trafficking case Friday, with reams of texts between the male escort known as Jules and an unidentified "Device owner."

The August 2009 messages kick off with the "Device owner" making a spur-of-the-moment pitch to Jules to fly from Los Angeles to NYC for the freak-off -- and being promised a nice "tip" if he can make it work.

A suspect has been arrested in the fatal hit-and-run of Netflix star Sara Burack ...  and authorities wasted little time in cracking the case.

Per the New York Post ... Amanda Kempton was arrested and booked on suspicion of leaving the scene of a motor vehicle accident, a felony.

A family spokesperson told TMZ ... they family was not aware an arrest had been made ... and Southampton Town Police did not immediately respond to a request for more information.

The Diddy trial is entering the home stretch because prosecutors are almost done with their case and the defense is now saying they only need one or two days to make their case ... and it sounds like we could get a verdict as early as next week.

Prosecutors called one of their final witnesses Friday and we heard more of the same ... this time from Brendan Paul, Diddy's former assistant, who said he is not a drug mule.

Paul testified about getting drugs sometimes for Diddy and setting up hotel rooms for freak-offs -- like other former Diddy helpers -- but he helped the defense by saying on cross-examination it didn't feel like 'Jane' was being coerced into participating in freak-offs.

Cops are investigating a campsite found in the Washington state woods where Travis Decker is believed to have gone on the run after allegedly killing his three young daughters -- this according to Chelan County Sheriff Mike Morrison.

Sheriff Morrison tells TMZ the abandoned campsite was discovered while an associate was on a hike in central Washington ... but there's a major problem -- they can't tell if the mystery equipment was left by lazy campers or if it's a spot where Decker sought shelter while on the lam.

Morrison says investigators are DNA-testing several pieces of evidence found throughout the intense search for "killer dad" Decker ... but it's not a quick turnaround like people are used to seeing on crime shows like "CSI."

Luigi Mangione's defense team says he's not a terrorist, as the feds would have you believe ... and they're telling it to the judge.

The alleged killer of UnitedHealthcare CEO Brian Thompson is facing a murder as an act of terrorism charge ... but Luigi's attorney Karen Friedman Agnifilo is laying out a slew of reasons why they feel the terrorism charge is unwarranted.

In new legal docs, obtained by TMZ, Luigi's defense says prosecutors have failed to adequately make the case for the terrorism charge from their indictment ... arguing terroristic intent cannot be inferred from Thompson's murder.

The Minnesota lawmaker and his wife -- who survived being shot by a masked man dressed as a cop who allegedly targeted them -- have spoken out about the suspected politically motivated attack ... and the details of the scenario are harrowing.

In a statement released to media ... State Sen. John Hoffman and his wife Yvette said they are continuing to recover after both were struck with a combined 17 bullets when the cop-impersonator opened fire at the front door of their house last weekend.

The state senator was shot nine times ... and he remains in critical but stable condition. Yvette, shot eight times, was released from the hospital Thursday.

Sean "Diddy" Combs' ex-assistant Brendan Paul says he didn't see any force or coercion from his former boss when it came to "freak-offs" with "Jane" ... and he says he was absolutely not a drug mule.

Brendan, a former Syracuse University basketball player and aspiring music producer, took the stand Friday in Diddy's criminal trial in NYC and told jurors about his 18 months working as an assistant to the music mogul.

During cross-examination from Diddy's defense attorney Brian Steel, Brendan testified he would often talk to Diddy's former girlfriend "Jane" before and after freak-offs ... and he said she did not come across as hesitant or apprehensive, and he says there was nothing from her indicating she was not a willing participant.

Law enforcement in Washington state says Travis Decker is likely still alive and hasn't taken his own life while on the run like Brian Laundrie, but the trail has gone cold ... and there's no info about an imminent threat to the public.

Chelan County's Sheriff Mike Morrison tells TMZ ... they still believe Decker is alive since there are still tips coming in regarding potential sightings.

We're told the tips have not panned out yet, but Sheriff Morrison is thankful for all the civilians who call in, as well as all the extra law enforcement personnel who are still vigorously trying to locate Decker while juggling their duties to their own territories.