Crime

The Georgia teen who allegedly ran over and killed a math teacher during a prank gone wrong may get off scot-free thanks to the victim's family, TMZ has learned.

Lee Darragh, Hall County District Attorney, tells TMZ ... he's conferred with the family of the victim, Jason Hughes, and "their desire to have the charges dropped will be given the greatest consideration along with the facts of the case." Darragh also said he will announce his decision soon after he completes his review of the police investigation.

The tragedy occurred in Gainesville, GA, last Friday, when authorities say 18-year-old student Jayden Wallace and his friends went over to Hughes' house and covered it in toilet paper as part of a prank ... taking part in a season of pranking that's become a tradition at their local high school.

But the situation went sideways after cops said Hughes came on the scene and chased after the teens before, slipping on the rain-soaked street. 

T'Vondre Sweat's 2024 DWI arrest is officially a thing of the past ... 'cause TMZ Sports has learned the case has been tossed due to insufficient evidence.

According to court docs we obtained, prosecutors filed the motion to dismiss in the case against the Tennessee Titans' 2024 second-round draft pick ... saying they cannot prove beyond a reasonable doubt the "element of intoxication."

As we previously reported, Sweat was involved in a rollover crash weeks before the 2024 NFL Draft. Police documents said that his orange 2023 Ford Bronco flipped on its side after it collided with a blue 2020 Dodge sports car on a Texas highway in the early morning hours of Sunday, April 7.

Travis Scott and a handful of artists are jumping to the defense of a Black man in Texas whose rap lyrics were cited during his sentencing for a double murder ... which landed him on death row, but the rappers believe using lyrics to impose capital punishment is unconstitutional.

James Broadnax was 19-years old when he killed two white men during a robbery in Garland, Texas ... and in 2009, a nearly all-white jury convicted him and decided he deserved the death penalty.

Prosecutors introduced Broadnax's handwritten rap lyrics as evidence only after he was convicted -- during the sentencing phase -- and during deliberation, the jury twice asked to see 40 pages of Broadnax's lyrics.

Ivanna Lisette Ortiz appeared in court for the first time since being arrested and charged in connection with the shooting at Rihanna's home.

Ortiz showed up wearing a blue jumpsuit and her hair was in braids.

Ortiz's Tuesday court appearance comes after being charged with attempted murder and assault ... her lawyer entered a plea and then withdrew it. Her next court appearance is March 25.

The Florida woman is still in custody and bail has been set at $1.8 million. Ortiz waived her right to a speedy trial and the judge issued protective orders for Rihanna and A$AP Rocky. Ortiz has also been ordered to surrender her guns.

As we reported ... Ortiz, 35, is accused of firing off multiple rounds into the Grammy winner's home while she was inside with her three children ... even hitting an Airstream trailer. Following the shooting, police trailed Ortiz's white Tesla Model 3 into a shopping center parking lot, where they arrested her.

She was later held on a $10,225,000 bail.

5:39 PM -- Prosecutors claim there were 9 people on Rihanna's property when Ivanna Lisette Ortiz allegedly opened fire ... which appears to be why she is charged with 9 counts of assault with a firearm.

The folks on the property ... Rihanna, A$AP Rocky and the couple's three children ... plus Rihanna's mom, Hollywood talent agent Tracey Jacobs and two other individuals ... according to new legal docs, obtained by TMZ.

At a press conference ... L.A. District Attorney Nathan Hochman announced Rihanna and her partner, A$AP Rocky were inside a trailer on the property at the time the shooting occurred.

Ivanna Lisette Ortiz has officially been charged with attempted murder and assault in connection with the shooting at Rihanna's Los Angeles-area home.

Ortiz, a 35-year-old woman from Florida, was charged Tuesday with one count of attempted murder, nine counts of assault with a firearm, two counts of shooting into an inhabited dwelling and one count of shooting at a motor vehicle ... according to the Los Angeles Times.

She's accused of firing off multiple rounds into the Grammy winner's home. Following the shooting, police trailed Ortiz's white Tesla Model 3 into a shopping center parking lot, where they arrested her.

Ortiz was later booked for attempted murder and held in custody with bail set at $10,225,000.

Erika Jayne's shocking 'RHOBH' abuse confession is shedding new light on a frightening police response to her home ... 'cause TMZ has learned the incident involved a suspect who refused to leave.

During a recent episode of "The Real Housewives of Beverly Hills," EJ made the revelation during a tense conversation with Denise Richards and Sutton Stracke about Denise's divorce from Aaron Phypers. After a photo of Denise with a "black eye" came up and Denise explained it, Erika said she had also experienced abuse in the past. She made it clear it did not involve either of her former husbands.

Law enforcement sources tell TMZ ... a male suspect -- described as a black man and a friend of Erika's -- allegedly broke into her Los Angeles home on September 20, 2024, and refused to leave.

Jenelle Evans’ mom, Barbara Evans, called the police to have her grandson Jace committed after he pulled a gun on her, TMZ has learned. 

Sources close to the situation tell TMZ ... Barbara called law enforcement on 16-year-old Jace February 27. We’re told Barbara told Jenelle she also planned on filing paperwork in court for help handling Jace.  

As TMZ first reported, Jace was placed in an involuntary mental facility following an incident where Barbara’s grandson allegedly pulled a gun on her and threatened to kill her as well as himself.

The folks who authorities say supplied TikTok star Cooper Noriega with the illicit drugs that ended up with his fatal overdose cut plea deals after being criminally charged in connection with his death ... and the feds want them to spend many years behind bars.

According to new legal docs, obtained by TMZ, Erick Estrada, the California man prosecutors allege supplied the fentanyl-laced oxycodone that killed Cooper, pled guilty to one count of conspiracy to distribute controlled substances resulting in death and one count of distribution of fentanyl resulting in death.

Prosecutors are asking the judge to sentence Estrada to 30 years in prison plus 5 years of supervised release ... saying he "operated in essence a DoorDash for drugs," which killed Cooper and another person.

1:21 PM PT -- Alexis’ manager TC Copper tells us … "Thank you for reaching out with this alleged incident. At this time, we are focusing on resolving this situation privately and legally. 

Also, in the video footage Alexis was exiting the building when he called her a bitch and the person that was with the victim stopped anything from happening with him and Alexis."

"Love & Hip Hop" star Alexis Skyy is being sued by her former friend, who claims she jumped him in the lobby of his plush Atlanta apartment complex.

Here's the deal ... Anthony Gaskin -- a former associate of Skyy -- appeared to be captured on tape receiving an epic beatdown at his building back in October 2024, and he says Skyy and two others, Robmira Taylor and Robert Thorne, were the assailants.

Gaskin is now suing Skyy and her crew for the alleged attack, as well as the apartment complex. He claims the building had inadequate security and failed to protect him when Sky and the others were "lying in wait" for him in the lobby.

The woman accused of shooting at Rihanna's house while the singer was inside seems to have taken cops on a trip through Los Angeles after the incident ... according to just-released dispatch audio of her arrest.

In the recording, obtained by TMZ, cops appear to tail Ivanna Lisette Ortiz in a white Tesla Model 3 as she drove into the parking lot of a shopping center.

According to the audio ... it appears the suspect got out of the car, getting down on her knees as officers approached her vehicle.

Jeffrey Epstein's once notorious Zorro Ranch in New Mexico is now crawling with investigators -- and TMZ has learned the authorities are trying to see if there's any substance to rumors dead bodies were buried on the property.

Sources familiar with the situation tell us ... the New Mexico Department of Justice is working in coordination with the ranch's new owner, Don Huffines, a Dallas-based real estate mogul who is currently running for Texas Comptroller.

Huffines and his family purchased the property in 2023 and then renamed it Rancho de San Rafael in honor of the patron saint of healing, promising to turn the land into a Christian retreat.

The Alexander brothers -- the wealthy trio charged with sex trafficking -- were found guilty on Monday.

Real estate moguls Oren and Tal Alexander were convicted alongside their brother Alon after a five-week trial … where they were facing allegations of drugging and raping dozens of women.

Jurors had heard testimony from 11 victims who said the brothers used their massive wealth and celebrity connections to assault them.

Kathy Ireland trusted business managers with her finances, but they used her as a personal piggy bank, stabbed her in the back and left her and her husband deeply in debt ... according to a new lawsuit.

In new legal docs, obtained by TMZ, the model-turned-mogul claims her former business managers not only misused her money, but also deceived her about her wealth and secretly took out loans in her name.

Kathy claims the alleged financial shenanigans cheated her and her husband, Dr. Greg Olsen, out of their home equity and life insurance policies, drained their retirement savings and forced them to sell their home.

The murder charge against the man accused of shooting and killing a woman at the Chiefs' championship parade in 2024 has been dropped, and his lawyer tells TMZ Sports his client will soon be going home.

Dominic Miller, who was facing a second-degree murder charge for the shooting death of Lisa Lopez-Galvan at the 2024 Super Bowl celebration, appeared in a Jackson County Circuit Court on Monday ... where prosecutors erased the charge.

Miller, instead, agreed to a plea deal, admitting to unlawful use of a weapon, accepting a two-year prison sentence, which he has already served (he's been behind bars).

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Harvey Weinstein says prison life has been brutal so far -- claiming he’s already taken a beating behind bars ... including one attack that left him bloodied on the floor.

In his first official sit-down interview behind bars, Weinstein says the incident went down at NYC’s Rikers Island when he simply asked the guy in front of him if he was done using the phone ... and the inmate allegedly responded by decking him in the face.

Weinstein told The Hollywood Reporter the punch sent him crashing to the ground, bleeding everywhere -- and even though guards asked who did it, he says he kept quiet because snitching behind bars is a no-go ... calling it the "law of the jungle."

Overall, things clearly aren’t looking great for Harvey healthwise -- 'cause his rep, Juda Engelmayer, tells TMZ he’s also battling spinal stenosis, blood cancer, diabetes, high blood pressure, has a heart stent, is losing vision due to disease, and is now confined to a wheelchair.