Texas Mass Shooter Taken Into Custody ... After Killing 5 Neighbors Execution Style
5:42 AM PT -- San Jacinto County Sheriff Greg Capers held a press conference Tuesday night and provided new information on the arrest of Francisco Oropeza. Capers said police found Oropeza cowering under a pile of laundry in a closet after the FBI got a tip on his whereabouts. Oropeza was hiding out inside a home allegedly tied to one of his relatives in Conroe, TX, -- just miles from the scene of the massacre.
Videos have surfaced online, which show investigators escorting Oropeza in handcuffs away from the house. In another clip, a shirtless Oropeza can be seen in the passenger seat of a police SUV as several cops keep their eyes on him. Oropeza's wife has also been arrested.
The man accused of shooting five of his neighbors "execution-style" in Texas has been apprehended after a nationwide manhunt.
Senior law enforcement sources tell TMZ ... Francisco Oropeza was taken into custody Tuesday by law enforcement.
Remember ... Oropeza is accused of shooting his neighbors Friday night in Cleveland, Texas after they complained about him firing off rounds for target practice on his property.
Oropeza's alleged rampage killed 5 people in the home next to his ... including an 8-year-old child. Cops say he was intoxicated on alcohol and/or drugs and used an AR-15-style rifle in the slayings.
Police say Oropeza was shooting his rifle in his yard late Friday night when his neighbors walked up to the fence dividing their properties and asked him to stop shooting his gun because their baby was trying to sleep.
Cops say Oropez grew annoyed, telling his neighbors ... "I'll do what I want to in my front yard." Police say he then marched over to the neighbor's house, went inside and started shooting.
There were at least 10 people inside the home when Oropeza opened fire, police said, and most were killed at super close range and from the neck up.
Oropeza was reportedly caught on a Ring doorbell camera entering the home ... and 3 kids were discovered without physical injuries inside the house. They were found drenched in blood in what was sure to be a traumatic experience. The women who were killed were using their bodies to shield the kids.
A Texas judge issued an arrest warrant for Oropeza after the shootings, and he went on the run. Investigators thought he may have fled the country, and the FBI joined police in a manhunt.
The firearm Oropeza allegedly used in the deadly rampage has since been recovered ... along with some of his clothes and his cell phone.
Story developing ...
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Rob Lowe Joins Son In Writers' Strike ... Picketing Together At Paramount
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Rob Lowe is not only showing the WGA his support during the writers' strike, but he's got his son's back, too -- picketing together outside Paramount and joining thousands of writers across the country to fight for fair wages.
Rob and his son John Owen were out in Hollywood Tuesday as the big strike went into effect, echoing the thoughts of many that film and TV writers are a true backbone in all content today.
The actor tells us he's extremely proud of his son for fighting alongside his colleagues, especially early on in his career -- for those unaware, John Owen and Rob are cocreators on Netflix's "Unstable," and the 28-year-old wrote on 33 episodes of his dad's series, "9-1-1: Lone Star."
John Owen sends the love right back to his pops, too ... saying he's thrilled to have his support -- but couldn't help but get a great joke in about Rob's priorities.
BTW -- Natasha Lyonne was outside Paramount, too ... and she made it a point that writing great projects really takes a village, and she thinks serious change is a necessity for getting the industry back to where it needs to be.
We also got actor and writer Michael Hitchcock at the same spot ... and he gives us the deets as to why streaming is crucial for this new contract -- and why banning AI from the industry is a must, too.
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Carrie Fisher Brother Upset Over Guest List Snub ... For Walk of Fame Ceremony
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Carrie Fisher's getting her star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame, but her only brother, Todd Fisher, says the family is shutting him out from attending ... and he considers it a slap in the face.
Carrie's bro tells TMZ ... "It's heartbreaking and shocking to me that I was intentionally omitted from attending this important legacy event for my sister, Carrie."
Todd, the son of late singer Eddie Fisher and late actress Debbie Reynolds, says the snub is ironic because he claims he's the one who got the ball rolling on getting Carrie a star on the Walk of Fame ... and he says he's worked tirelessly to honor and preserve the family's Hollywood legacy.
Todd says he and Carrie were inseparable for more than 60 years -- so, he views the guest list snub as "extremely hurtful and distressing as I was always a big part of everything my sister and mother did historically over their lifetimes."
Todd points out he went with Carrie to their mother's own Hollywood Walk of Fame ceremony back in the day, as well as her handprint dedication at the famed Chinese Theatre. Fittingly, Carrie's getting her star Thursday, May the 4th (be with you) ... aka "Star Wars Day."
When Todd found out he didn't make the guest list cut, he says he had his team reach out to the Hollywood Chamber of Commerce, which oversees the Walk of Fame plaques, for clarity ... and he says he was told the guest list was controlled by Disney.
Todd says Disney told him the final say came down to Carrie's family ... and he says he was told they had filled the 30 seats they were given and to not add anymore stress to his niece, Billie Lourd, over his snub.
Carrie's brother says the event is about her -- not him or his family -- but adds, "Frankly, it's a distressing situation and I don't deserve to be put in this position. As the only brother of the Carrie Fisher, being omitted from this special day is truly hurtful."
Long overdue & so well-deserved.#CarrieOnForever❤️ https://t.co/0pWxcfjoRB
— Mark Hamill (@MarkHamill) April 24, 2023 @MarkHamill
Todd says Carrie would have wanted him to be there.
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Nick Kyrgios Tesla Stolen From Mom At Gunpoint ... Helps Police Nab Thief
Nick Kyrgios' Tesla was stolen in Australia after an assailant pulled a gun on his mom, demanding the keys, according to police ... but thanks to the tennis star's quick thinking, cops got his car back and arrested the alleged thief, who's now behind bars.
According to the Australian Broadcasting Corporation, the incident went down around 8:30 AM on Monday when a 32-year-old man from the Canberra area pointed a "long-barrelled gun" at Nick's mother, Norlaila Kyrgios, and demanded the keys to Nick's bright green Tesla.
The man asked Nick's mom how to drive the Tesla while still pointing the gun at her, according to officials. Norlaila was able to flee and run for help.
Thankfully, Nick -- the 26th-ranked tennis player in the world -- was nearby and had the sense of mind to use an app to track the vehicle's location. Police located the Tesla, and began approaching with guns drawn, but the guy fled, and the pursuit was on!
The chase, which wasn't terribly fast (around 55 mph) was eventually stopped when the cars entered a school zone. But, Nick's app was able to track the car, and even limit the top speed to 50 mph.
Cops eventually caught up with the Tesla, and the alleged thief, in a nearby suburb. As police tried to arrest the man, they say he resisted, and a taser was deployed.
The guy is now facing five charges including aggravated armed robbery and failure to stop for police.
The alleged perpetrator has been denied bail.
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Serena Williams I'm Pregnant!!! Baby #2 Debuts at Met Gala
Serena Williams just dropped a bombshell at the Met Gala, but it's got nothing to do with tennis or fashion ... she's got another baby on the way!
The retired tennis superstar revealed her pregnancy as she and husband Alexis Ohanian arrived at the gala -- and just to make sure everyone got it, he put his hand on her baby bump.
Guess they didn't want folks guessing about what they were seeing ... a la Rihanna during her Super Bowl Halftime surprise announcement.
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Serena also made it official on social media, posting a bunch of pics with the caption, "Was so excited when Anna Wintour invited the 3 of us to the Met Gala."
This will be the second baby for Serena and Alexis -- their first, daughter Alexis Olympia Ohanian Jr., was born in September 2017.
Serena's wearing a mostly black Gucci dress ... slimming, but you can still make out the bun in the oven in several photos snapped during her arrival.
No word on how far along she is in her pregnancy, but congrats!!!
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Gordon Lightfoot Dead at 84
Gordon Lightfoot, a folk music and soft rock icon of the 1970s, is dead ... according to his publicist.
Gordon, best known for his hit, "If You Could Read My Mind," passed away Monday evening in Toronto, where he'd been hospitalized. His publicist, Victoria Lord, did not say why he was getting medical treatment or release a cause of death.
The folk singer and songwriter became a Canadian national treasure, but also scored big hits throughout the '70s on the U.S. Billboard charts -- like 'Read My Mind,' "Sundown" and "The Wreck of the Edmund Fitzgerald."
Lightfoot was a 4-time Grammy nominee, and he's been inducted into the Songwriters Hall of Fame, as well as the Canadian Music HOF.
He had a rep for being a fitness nut and had remained active on the road ... touring the U.S. and Canada for years before the COVID-19 pandemic forced him to take a break.
In fact, he was still touring earlier this year, until an announcement just a few weeks ago that he was canceling all remaining dates due to an unannounced "health-related" issue.
He's survived by his 6 children and his wife Kim Hasse, to whom he's been married since 2014.
Gordon was 84.
RIP
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Kim Kardashian Steps Out for Met Gala North by Her Side!!!
7:15 AM PT -- 5/2 -- While North left the hotel all glammed up with mom, she didn't make it on the Met's carpet ... turns out you gotta be 18 for the big event.
Kim Kardashian has a very special person by her side at this year's Met Gala ... her daughter North West, who is making her debut at the event.
We just got video of Kim and North leaving the Ritz-Carlton Hotel in New York City, where a ton of screaming fans have been camped outside waiting on their favorite stars to step out on their way to the event.
Kim's wearing a beautiful white gown, she's been teasing the look for a while now -- posting from Karl Lagerfeld's office in Paris just last week, so you know she's in Chanel.
North looked cute as ever, smiling as she made her way to the car with mom ... gotta assume she's wearing Chanel too.
Of course, the big moment will be once Kim officially hits the carpet ... which should be any minute.
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Cher & Alexander Edwards Splitsville ... Never Engaged, Either
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Cher and Alexander "AE" Edwards have called it quits on their relationship, and were never even engaged, despite multiple reports to the contrary ... TMZ has learned.
Sources close to the former couple tell TMZ they ended things a couple weeks ago, though it's currently unclear what led to the relationship's collapse or who first decided to end it.
What's more shocking, our sources say the two were never even engaged to be married, despite a massive diamond ring she was gifted around Christmas. We're told the two just decided to play into the speculation it was an engagement ring.
It was back in January when 76-year-old Cher told paps she and 37-year-old AE were engaged, but now we know they were just having some fun.
Remember ... Cher and AE were first linked back in November when they were photographed holding hands during a night out in West Hollywood.
AE even told us last month he was getting super close with Cher's sons, Chaz Bono and Elijah Blue Allman.
There's a 40-year age gap between Cher and AE -- and now she's got another name to add to her list of celebrity ex boyfriends -- which includes some heavy hitters like Tom Cruise, Gene Simmons, Warren Beatty, Richie Sambora and Val Kilmer.
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Jerry Springer Laid to Rest in Chicago ... Public Tribute Coming Soon
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1:13 PM PT -- 5/2 -- Due to an overwhelming amount of interest from the public, organizers have decided to push the date of the public service back to June 9 at Memorial Hall in downtown Cincinnati.
Jerry Springer was laid to rest in a private ceremony this weekend among family and friends, with plans in place for a public celebration of life in the near future ... TMZ has learned.
Sources with direct knowledge tell us the legendary talk show host -- who died last week after a battle with pancreatic cancer -- was buried Sunday in a suburb of Chicago. We're told there was a relatively small group of people in attendance for the ceremony.
We're told the burial also entailed a religious service -- which our sources say followed traditional Jewish customs.
9/11/19
It might sound like a modest send-off for the late, great Springer -- but our sources assure us his fans will get their own chance to say goodbye as well in the near future. We're told a tribute is being planned -- which, for now, is scheduled to go down on May 16 in Cincinnati.
Our sources tell us it'll be a free ticketed event open to the general public. Right now, organizers are planning how many people can attend -- for now, we're told they're anticipating letting around 500 people inside the venue.
As for what folks can expect during this upcoming ceremony ... our sources say it'll be a good overview of his life and legacy in and out of work -- which touched communities from all walks of life, from politics to entertainment and just about everything in between.
We're also told some famous faces are expected to roll through, but the list is still being worked on. Our sources say videos will be played, guest speakers will talk and music will be performed -- so it's gonna be a big deal. We're told the plan is to stream this as well.
While there'll, no doubt, be a celeb factor at the public service -- we're told the main focus here will be on normies being able to get in and bid Springer a proper farewell. Our sources say more details are forthcoming and that tickets are going to be made available soon.
Jerry was 79. RIP
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Vanessa Bryant Emotional Tribute On Gigi's Birthday ... 'Te Amo Mambacita'
Vanessa Bryant is remembering her daughter on what would have been her 17th birthday ... penning an emotional tribute to Gigi on social media.
"Happy 17th birthday, baby girl," Kobe's widow wrote on Instagram. "I love you and miss you so much, sweet Angel."
Bryant also shared several snaps of Gigi ... showing her smiling from ear to ear at Disneyland and other vacations.
"Te Amo Mambacita ❤️," she added. "We love you to the moon and back infinity +1. Forever & Always. ❤️."
Vanessa's friends showed love as well ... including Candace Parker, La La, Taraji P. Henson and more.
Gigi's birthday marks the release of the Kobe IV Protro "Mambacita" ... a special colorway of the NBA superstar's signature shoe that will benefit the Mamba and Mambacita Sports Foundation.
The Kobe IV Protro “Mambacita” celebrates Gianna “Gigi” Bryant’s 17th birthday. We dare you to #PlayGigisWay, to be competitive, joyful, and curious and never take any opportunity for granted, just like Gigi.
— Nike Basketball (@nikebasketball) April 28, 2023 @nikebasketball
Available starting 5.1 on SNKRS in select regions. pic.twitter.com/j4MH8j5gP2
Kobe and Gigi were among the nine passengers who died in the tragic 2020 helicopter crash ... but their legacies live on.
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Tampa Bay Buccaneers Shaquil Barrett's 2-Year-Old Dies ... Drowned in Family Pool
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Shaquil Barrett -- a linebacker for the Tampa Bay Buccaneers -- just suffered an unimaginable tragedy ... his 2-year-old drowned in their pool, just days after her birthday.
The news was confirmed Sunday by Shaq's football team, which released a statement expressing condolences to him and his family. The Bucs write, "Today’s tragic news is heartbreaking for all members of the Buccaneers family."
They adds, "Our thoughts and prayers are with Shaq, Jordanna, and the entire Barrett family during this unimaginably difficult time. While no words can provide true comfort at a time such as this, we offer our support and love as they begin to process this very profound loss of their beloved Arrayah."
The police confirmed it as well -- saying Shaq's daughter, Arrayah, was transported to a hospital Sunday morning after a call came in for a child who'd fallen into the water. Despite life-saving measures, cops say the child was pronounced dead a short time later.
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It's unclear what led to the accident -- but cops are saying the circumstances don't appear to be suspicious in nature. An investigation is ongoing ... Shaq hasn't commented.
An even more gut-wrenching detail here is the fact that Arrayah just turned 2 on April 19. Shaq posted an adorable tribute to his kid, writing ... "Happy 2nd bday to my cutie girl. So sweet and cute. You made our family complete. I love you baby girl."
Shaq and his wife, Jordanna, are raising three other children together ... the rest of whom are older at ages 11, 9 and 8.
RIP
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Tish Cyrus I'm Getting Married Again!!! To 'Prison Break' Star
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Tish Cyrus is ready to be a bride again -- she just announced she's engaged ... and the husband-to-be is someone who's pretty famous himself on the small screen.
Miley's mom broke the news Sunday, taking to IG with a photo of her and "Prison Break" star Dominic Purcell -- specifically, though, a shot of their hands interlocked and her ring finger on display ... with a giant rock sitting on top. She writes, "A thousand times .... YES"
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The couple's been together for what seems like less than a year at this point -- but ever since they went public in 2022 ... they've been all over each other's feed in loving photos.
This is Dominic's 2nd marriage. He was previously with producer Rebecca Williamson for 10 years, and the exes share 4 children together. Tish, of course, was previously married to Billy Ray Cyrus for nearly 30 years ... before they filed for divorce almost a year ago to the day.
As we well know ... they had five children together -- including Miley, Noah and all the rest. While they got the legal process started last year, it's unclear if the divorce is finalized.
So far, it doesn't appear any of the Cyrus kids have commented on Tish's page. She is, however, getting a lot of congratulations from just about everyone else.
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Rihanna Furry & Fierce in Chanel ... Baby Bumpin' in NYC
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Rihanna wore quite the getup in New York last night -- one that was all fur and all high fashion ... from head to toe.
The singer was photographed out and about in the Big Apple Saturday, where we're told she was grabbing dinner ... although there's no sign of her partner, A$AP Rocky. What we can see, though, is RiRi wearing this wacky ensemble ... which all starts with a big hat.
Of course, her eyewear gives away what she's rocking here ... it's Chanel, and it seems she was feeling a little Cruella de Vil-ish with the black-and-white theme.
Speaking of that, it's unclear if this is real fur or not. We know PETA recently reached out to her and tried sending her some faux fur stuff -- but we have no idea if she entertained it. In any case, Rihanna was feeling herself ... which probably translates for her new kiddo too.
Indeed, you can see the newly expecting mother's baby bump -- but it doesn't seem she's anywhere near ready to pop. Just like her 1st pregnancy, we're sure we'll see her belly on display when that time comes ... in the meantime, here's Rihanna serving hot mom looks.
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Mercedes Moné Can't Wait To Smoke With Snoop Dogg ... When I Return To U.S.
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Mercedes Moné is no longer the IWGP Women's Champion ... but the wrestling star already knows how she wants to get over the devastating loss when she returns to the United States -- by smoking a blunt with her cousin and WrestleMania 39 host, Snoop Dogg.
"I cannot wait to come back to the U.S.A. so I can roll up a big one, smoke one, roll one again, and go to Long Beach, baby, where you can go to my cousin's house, Snoop Dogggggggggg," Mercedes told Dean "Mojo" Muhtadi during an interview with TMZ Sports.
Moné lost her IWGP Women's Championship to Mayu Iwatani at the Stardom All Star Grand Queendom event in Tokyo, Japan. Still, despite dropping the title, Mercedes told us that wrestling fans in Japan treat her like royalty.
Mercedes -- formerly known as Sasha Banks in the WWE -- told us she got rocked early into her contest with Iwatani, resulting in her having difficulty seeing, and described the fight with Iwatani as the "hardest-hitting" match of her 13-year career.
Mayu Iwatani has just defeated Mercedes Mone to become the IWGP Women’s Champion at today’s STARDOM All Star Grand Queendom (04.23.2023)pic.twitter.com/ogM8GSmFia
— Dark Puroresu Flowsion (@PuroresuFlow) April 23, 2023 @PuroresuFlow
"I got this big ass balloon on my face in the first five seconds, and I just couldn't believe it," Moné said. "But I told myself, 'Mercedes, you have to finish. You're in Japan. The fans are chanting for you.' This balloon in my eye, I couldn't f****** see. That's why I couldn't kick out."
Mercedes told us she has one match left on her contract with New Japan Pro Wrestling (NJPW) on May 21 in Long Beach at Resurgence, meaning she'll be a free agent again and have to decide where she wants to continue her wrestling career.
3/6/23
When we spoke to Mercedes in March, "The Mandalorian" TV star told us she recently inked a deal with United Talent Agency (UTA). Since then, Mercedes says her success inside the squared circle has translated outside the ring, and things are aligning for her as an actress.
"I have so many auditions in the bank," Moné said. "I have movies coming up. I have TV shows coming out. I don't know what's next in my chapter, but I know that I have so much lined up ... I can just expect that it's going to be the absolute best."
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Fiery Disaster TikToker's Flamethrower Explodes ... Burns Over 80 Percent Of Body
A dangerous challenge on TikTok landed a North Carolina teen in the hospital with serious burns over nearly 80 percent of his disfigured body.
Grisly photos of Mason Dark have gone viral after the 16-year-old was dared by a group of TikTokers to make a torch out of a spray paint can and a lighter.
The TT users often meet online to create mini-flamethrowers, but this time their makeshift project went awry as Dark was engulfed in flames after the can exploded.
Dark ran to a river near his Wake Forest home and dove inside to put out the flames. When he emerged from the water, he had third-degree burns over 76 percent of his body, including his face.
His mom, Holli, told Fox affiliate WRAL News, “He is unrecognizable, unrecognizable." She also said her son was rushed to a burn center, where he has already undergone skin grafts, which are surgeries that replace damaged skin with healthy skin from unaffected areas of the body. Dark is expected to stay in the hospital for at least 6 months.
Holli went on to say her son's flaming, bunched-up T-shirt was seared into his skin while he was trying to remove it at the riverbed.
She added that his physical appearance has only worsened since the accident last week, explaining, “The way he looked when those kids saw him when he first came in, to what he looks like now, it’s 100 times different."
Dark is an active high school football player and track runner.
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Bam Margera Back To Normal Life With Family Outing After Surrendering To Cops
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Bam Margera didn't lose his appetite after surrendering to police to face charges for allegedly assaulting his brother ... getting right back to normal life with his girlfriend and her kid.
TMZ obtained these photos of Bam breaking bread with his chick and her 8-year-old daughter Thursday afternoon in West Chester, PA ... only hours after turning himself into cops and a subsequent court appearance.
Folks who were there say Bam hit up a restaurant called Stove & Tap ... with his group chowing down on french fries, plus macaroni and cheese.
We're also told Bam was very respectful to restaurant staff, generally coming off as being very mellow ... and ducking outside a couple times to smoke some cigarettes.
Bam was right back to normal life after being on the run from police for a few days ... as we reported, he had a warrant out for his arrest after allegedly getting into an altercation with his brother, with police claiming Bam threatened to put a bullet in his sibling's head.
Bam's brother, Jesse, also claimed the former "Jackass" star has been using meth, making the allegations on social media ... and the judge ordered Bam to stay away from Jesse and complete a drug and alcohol assessment.
Friday, Bam posted a series of photos on Instagram, claiming he was finished drinking alcohol and saying he'd recently taken a drug test to prove he wasn't on meth. Bam also vowed to get Jesse removed from a home he's allegedly been renting from Bam.
TMZ broke the story ... Bam allegedly called his family while on the run, accusing them of stealing money from him and telling them how much he hated them for putting him in a treatment center.
Bam looks calm and collected here ... a big change from the last time we saw him at a restaurant.