Alicia Keys Invites Ralph Yarl to Kansas Show As Fam Starts Trust For Donations
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Ralph Yarl, the teen who was shot when he accidentally rang the wrong doorbell, now has a personal invite from Alicia Keys ... TMZ has learned.
Here's the deal ... Alicia has a concert scheduled in Kansas this July, and Lee Merritt, attorney for the Yarl family, tells us the singer asked Ralph to come out to the show and meet her.
As if that wasn't big enough, we're told Roc Nation also reached out to him ... letting Ralph and co. know the company wants to help out too, in any way possible.
Ralph's fam has been feeling the love from folks all over the country, and they've set up a trust fund for all the donations. We're told writer and social justice advocate Shaun King helped the Yarl family find someone to map out the financial assistance.
As we reported, Ralph's GoFundMe picked up serious steam -- it's already passed $3.4 million raised -- and while there's no set plan for the money yet, the trust ensures it will be there for Ralph when he needs it.
BTW, Ralph's mom Cleo also got emotional support from Ahmaud Arbery's mother, Wanda Cooper-Jones ... who's also repped by Merritt. We're told she encouraged Cleo to lean on prayer, and reminded her victims, like her son, hold the power.
Meanwhile, 84-year-old Andrew Lester -- who shot Ralph 2 times -- was charged with assault in the first degree and armed criminal action.
We spoke with attorney Ben Crump after Lester was charged, and he told us why he thinks the charges don't exactly fit the crime.
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KISS's Paul Stanley Gender Reassignment for Kids is Wrong ... And a Dangerous Trend
Paul Stanley says we're confusing our kids by teaching them about gender identity and sexuality at too young of an age -- which he thinks is dangerous, and not to be trifled with.
The KISS rocker took to Twitter Sunday with an unprompted statement about this topic -- a culture war hot-button issue that has largely consumed the country and seems to only be getting more contentious by the day.
— Paul Stanley (@PaulStanleyLive) April 30, 2023 @PaulStanleyLive
He writes, "There is a BIG difference between teaching acceptance and normalizing and even encouraging participation in a lifestyle that confuses young children into questioning their sexual identification as though some sort of game and then parents in some cases allow it."
PS adds, "There ARE individuals who as adults may decide reassignment is their needed choice but turning this into a game or parents normalizing it as some sort of natural alternative or believing that because a little boy likes to play dress up in his sister’s clothes or a girl in her brother’s, we should lead them steps further down a path that’s far from the innocence of what they are doing."
Lastly, "With many children who have no real sense of sexuality or sexual experiences caught up in the ‘fun’ of using pronouns and saying what they identify as, some adults mistakenly confuse teaching acceptance with normalizing and encouraging a situation that has been a struggle for those truly affected and have turned it into a sad and dangerous fad."
Naturally, the reactions are varied ... backlash by some, praise by others. A handful are also pointing out the irony -- namely, that KISS, for a long time, seemed kinda drag-friendly.
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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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Texas Mass Shooting Shooter Still On the Loose ... After Slaughtering 5 Neighbors Execution Style
The man accused of carrying out 5 "execution-style" murders in Texas was triggered by his neighbors complaining their baby's sleep was interrupted by his target practice, according to a new report.
San Jacinto County Sheriff Greg Capers told KTRK News that the suspect -- identified as Francisco Oropeza -- was firing his AR-15 style rifle in the yard of his Cleveland, TX, home late Friday night when his neighbors walked up to a fence dividing their properties.
Capers said the neighbors requested that Oropeza stop shooting his weapon because they had a "young baby trying to go to sleep."
But, Oropeza -- who had been drinking -- got annoyed and replied, "I'll do what I want to in my front yard," Capers said.
The situation quickly turned from harassment to a massacre.
Police say Oropeza marched over to his neighbor's house, stepped inside, and unleashed a barrage of bullets with his AR-15-style rifle, killing 3 females and 2 males, including an 8-year-old boy. Oropeza was reportedly caught on a Ring camera entering the home.
Five People Killed In Texas Mass Shooting, Gunman Still at Large
Capers added that all the victims were shot from the neck up "almost execution style."
During the shooting, two female victims used their bodies as shields to protect two of their children, who were found unharmed in a bedroom.
Capers acknowledged their heroics, explaining, "In my opinion, they were trying to take care of the babies and keep them babies alive."
Three more kids were discovered without injuries inside the home, but they were drenched in blood and taken to a hospital to be evaluated as a precautionary measure.
A judge issued an arrest warrant for Oropeza, who investigators believe has fled the country. The FBI has joined police in their manhunt to find Oropeza and has recovered the rifle he allegedly wielded in the deadly attack, along with his cell phone and some clothing.
Oropeza is considered armed and dangerous and a threat to the community.
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Texas Mass Shooting 5 People Killed Including Child ... Suspect Is Still On the Loose
Another mass shooting -- this time in Texas -- has claimed the lives of five people -- including an 8-year-old child -- after a gunman went on a wild rampage using an AR-15 style rifle, according to police.
The execution-style slayings occurred late Friday night in Cleveland, TX, where the suspect -- who apparently was intoxicated on drugs and/or alcohol -- opened fire inside a house with at least ten people inside, cops said.
After the smoke cleared, five people -- ranging in age from 8 to 40 -- were lying dead from their bullet wounds. Police say two female victims draped themselves over two children in a bedroom, saving their lives.
The gunman fled and was still at large of this morning. Police have not disclosed a motive, but said the assailant was armed with the AR-15 style rifle.
El Paso Mass Shooting Ends With 1 Dead, 3 Injured
San Jacinto County Sheriff deputies responded to the home -- which is about 55 miles from Houston -- after receiving a harassment call. Cops cordoned off the crime scene and told locals to stay away so they could investigate
During their probe, investigators learned that the alleged gunman -- who lived in the area -- would practice shooting in his front yard, where officers found multiple shell casings.
#Cleveland #Texas police give update on shooting pic.twitter.com/tvRcti3l9U
— Wake Up Waverly (@WaverlyWakeUp) April 29, 2023 @WaverlyWakeUp
Police described the suspect as a 5-foot-8 Hispanic man with short black hair who was last seen dressed in blue jeans, a black shirt and work boots.
The deadly attack was just the latest in a string of mass shootings plaguing the country. So far this year, there have been at least 160 mass shootings across the US that have left more than 200 people dead.
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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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Ex-NFL DB William Moore Admits To Shooting At Woman's Car ... Claims He Was Protecting Family
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Former NFL safety William Moore is admitting to shooting at a woman's car during an altercation at a Georgia park last weekend ... but he claims he was actually the victim in the case.
The ex-Atlanta Falcons defensive back was arrested on Sunday in Lawrenceville ... after a woman told cops he shot at her car following a playground dispute that her 9-year-old niece had with Moore's young daughter.
According to a police report, the woman alleged Moore got so angry over the situation, he opened fire on her ride while her niece and her son were in the back seat. Moore was ultimately taken into custody ... and booked on several charges, including aggravated assault and criminal damage to property.
But, on Friday, Moore's attorney said in a statement to TMZ Sports the former football player only fired his gun because he was concerned the woman was trying to ram her car into his, potentially causing injury to him and his family.
"William took his two young children and his dog to the park to play," Matthew D. Crosby said. "After watching an older and larger female child assault his daughter, he attempted to speak to the lady that was with the girl to address the child’s behavior."
"William parked his car, got out and approached her driver’s side window to talk. She responded by putting her car in reverse and slamming it into William’s car right where his young son was sitting."
Crosby continued, "It was not until she pulled forward and was preparing to crash into his car again that he produced his gun. William was terrified that his children would be seriously hurt or killed if he did not act immediately. So, he shot at her car’s tire and away from the occupants, attempting to disable her vehicle and prevent further deadly threats to his children."
Crosby went on to say that Moore "adamantly denies the charges and looks forward to his day in court to give his side of the story."
According to jail records, Moore -- who played seven seasons in the NFL and made the 2012 Pro Bowl roster -- remains in police custody.
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California H.S. Baseball Massive Brawl Breaks Out At Game ... Cops Investigating
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Two California high school baseball teams got into a massive brawl during a game earlier this week -- and it grew into such a large melee on the diamond, cops tell TMZ Sports they're now investigating it all.
The fight erupted after Norwalk H.S. beat Mayfair H.S., 3-2, on Wednesday in Lakewood, which is about 25 miles south of downtown Los Angeles.
The victory meant the Norwalk Lancers swept Mayfair and would advance in the playoffs ... and in order to celebrate the occasion, one of the Lancers' players brought a broom to the postgame handshake line.
Mayfair vs. Norwalk gets fiesty. pic.twitter.com/AtaZe0HWWJ
— Mateo de $eal Beach (@MattmoneyM) April 27, 2023 @MattmoneyM
Fans in the crowd, though, didn't appreciate the sweep taunt ... and you can hear in footage from the scene, one person yelled, "Put your broom in the dugout! Respect the game!"
Mayfair players clearly didn't like it either ... and seconds later, an all-out brawl between both teams erupted.
At one point, parents even got in the middle of it ... with some calling players on the field derogatory names.
A different angle of the fight shows several players threw punches in the skirmish ... and on Friday, the Lakewood Sheriff’s Department told us officers did ultimately respond to the scene and an investigation is now underway.
Was shared video of brawl between Norwalk and Mayfair baseball today. Norwalk won 3-2 and both teams are headed to the playoffs. But this could have some repercussions. pic.twitter.com/1l3xUygbBt
— Fred J. Robledo 👨🏻💻 (@SGVNSports) April 27, 2023 @SGVNSports
The California Interscholastic Federation and officials from the two schools said they're still gathering information on the unfortunate incident ... and a punishment could come down at a later date.
"An update will be released once the investigation is complete," officials said.
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Guess Who This Lil' Rock 'N' Roller Turned Into!
Before this cool kid rockin' a "Mork & Mindy" tee was drumming beats and touring all over the world, he was grabbing his drumsticks at just 4 years old, sticking his tongue out for the camera, and growing up in Fontana, California.
Before he joined one of the most iconic bands of all time, he was a trashman in Laguna Beach, CA. This talented musician has produced tunes for some of Hollywood's hottest stars such as Avril Lavigne and Machine Gun Kelly.
Need one more hint? He's got tats for days!
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Former Falcons DB William Moore Ex-Pro Bowler Arrested ... Allegedly Shot At Car With Children Inside
Former Pro Bowl defensive back William Moore -- who played seven seasons for the Atlanta Falcons -- was arrested this week ... after he allegedly shot at a car while children were inside it.
According to the Gwinnett County Police Department, officers were called out to Alexander Park in Lawrenceville, Ga. at around 6 PM on Sunday ... following reports of a domestic dispute. Once they arrived, cops say a woman told them an unknown male, later identified as Moore, had shot at her car.
She also, according to police, said an unknown woman slashed her tire with a screwdriver during the incident as well.
The woman, police said, explained to officers that everything had started after her 9-year-old niece got into a tiff on the playground with Moore's young daughter.
According to police documents, the woman told police an angry Moore approached her and told her he was "going to get his niece to come and fight her" over the kids' altercation.
Police in the docs said the woman tried to leave in her car to avoid conflict ... but Moore blocked her in her parking spot with his vehicle. That's when cops say the unknown woman started puncturing her front left tire with a screwdriver.
Cops say the woman told them she tried to leave, but accidentally struck Moore's car ... and that's when she claims Moore shot at her ride while her niece and son were in the back seat.
According to the police report, the bullet struck the woman's driver's side door ... but thankfully, no one was injured.
The incident was apparently caught on video, and in the footage ... it looks like you can see Moore and a woman near the victim's car before a gunshot rings out.
Police said they later stopped a vehicle at the park matching the description of the suspect's car and detained Moore.
According to the Gwinnett County Sheriff's jail records, Moore was booked on two counts of aggravated assault, one count of felony criminal damage to property in the second degree, and one count of felony possession of a firearm or knife during the commission.
He's also being charged with two misdemeanor counts of cruelty to children in the third degree. His bond has been set at $21,700.
The former Missouri standout was selected by the Falcons in the second round of the 2009 NFL Draft. He totaled 365 tackles, 3.5 sacks, 11 forced fumbles and 16 interceptions in his career. He was selected to the Pro Bowl in 2012.
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Bam Margera Bro Says He's On The Run with GF & 8-Year-Old Child ... Recently Using Meth
Bam Margera is on the run from the police with his girlfriend and her 8-year-old child, and to make matters worse, he's developed an addiction to meth ... at least according to his brother, Jess Margera.
The former "Jackass" star's sibling is making the alarming allegations on Twitter, claiming Bam is in a really bad place right now.
Jess says Bam is traveling by car with his girlfriend and her daughter, and he says he "can't even imagine the environment in that car night now," worrying about the kid's safety and adding ... "she doesn't deserve this unnecessary trauma."
Bam's brother claims he's picked up a meth habit recently and is now "unrecognizable." Jess says he doesn't know what Bam's capable of when he's using meth and says it's been "scary" and "heartbreaking" to see Bam "hallucinating."
TMZ broke the story ... Bam's got a warrant out for his arrest in Pennsylvania, where State Police say Bam got into an altercation with his family and then made a getaway into the woods.
Some of Bam's longtime friends recently tried to stage an intervention, but they say it didn't take and laid some of the blame on Bam's girlfriend.
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Drake Bell Sucking on Balloon in His Car ... Weeks After Going 'Missing'
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Drake Bell looks to be in a bad place -- inhaling from a balloon that appears to be filled with nitrous oxide ... a troubling move that comes amid some tumultuous weeks for him.
The former child star was sitting in his car Tuesday outside of his L.A. home sucking on a fully inflated balloon. In one of the photos, you can see a cannister of some sort -- which resembles a typical nitrous oxide container.
Of course, huffing nitrous is a dangerous but popular method of getting high -- a few seconds of euphoria and head rush -- without using hard drugs.
BTW ... this is not Drake's first rodeo with nitrous oxide -- he was pictured doing the exact same thing back in December, and, in that instance his young son was in the car too.
And yes, inhaling nitrous oxide without a medical professional's supervision or guidance is, indeed, bad for one's health.
As we reported ... Drake's clearly been going through it of late. He told Twitter users last week that he was contemplating suicide after the trolling and attacks over his child endangerment conviction in 2021 -- which has led to people labeling him a "pedophile."
On top of that ... his wife filed for divorce just a couple days prior, this after he was reported missing in Florida -- only to pop up on the radar again in what turned out be a false alarm.
We know Drake has been thrust into a child custody battle with his now-estranged wife -- and, apparently, it's gotten so ugly behind the scenes ... he's been sending scary messages to his family that made them worry for his safety and his life.
The guy's had a lot of ups and downs in recent years -- everything from a choppy music career to even more legal issues like a DUI bust and bankruptcy.
As we reported, family members called police a couple weeks ago, because they were so worried about Drake. These images won't ease those concerns.
Drake's rep chose not to comment on the photos.
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Gisele Bundchen Gifts $1M to Women's Shelter ... Breaks Ground on New Children's Center
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Gisele Bündchen's new chapter of life has her going all in on philanthropy work -- givin' back in a major way to help battle the growing childhood homeless crisis in Florida.
The supermodel announced Tuesday she'd be gifting a whopping $1 mil to the Miami chapter of Lotus House, the nation's largest women's shelter, which just broke ground on a new state-of-the-art facility called The Children's Village.
We're told the new facility's goal is to focus on the needs of the community's youth, and to keep the momentum going on preventing homelessness in the area. Gisele's gift will go toward a new playground as well as more programming within the village.
The 7-figure donation was a no-brainer for Gisele, who said ... "Building a solid community for children is so important, especially for those who are vulnerable and in need."
She's stoked about the playground, too ... adding it'll be extremely beneficial to kids' physical health, social interactions, and overall self-confidence.
Lotus House has been open to those in need since 2006 -- growing from 34 beds to serving more than 10,000 women and children. Today, the facility has more than 80% of its guests successfully exiting... far above the national average.
Great cause to support, Gisele!
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Guess Who This Lil' Guitar Player Turned Into!
It comes as no surprise this talented guy turned into a musical genius, because not only did he grow up playing in his family's band... but he and his five siblings grew up observing his parents dancing and singing in Waikiki, Hawaii.
He may not be the tallest guy on the block but his singing chops and dance moves sure are mighty! He's written songs for Flo Rida and Snoop Dogg, and if you're a Cardi B fan .... well then you've definitely seen this guy's "Finesse."
Need one more clue? He's performed at the Super Bowl twice!
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Evander Kane Claims Kings Fan Spit On Young Supporter's Jersey ... 'I'm Disgusted'
3:23 PM PT -- Sources tell us the Kings are aware of the allegations and looking into the situation.
Edmonton Oilers star Evander Kane says a number of Kings supporters turned a dream trip into a complete nightmare for a young fan last week ... accusing L.A. backers of harassing and spitting on her jersey during a Stanley Cup playoff game.
Evander shared the allegations via social media ... saying 10-year-old Cecily Eklund -- who is battling cancer -- was singled out for wearing a Kane jersey during Game 3 of the Kings vs. Oilers series at Crypto.com Arena on Friday.
"I'm disgusted and appalled at what happened to this amazing little girl in the stands and in a women's restroom where she was harassed for wearing her jersey and was spit on by a LA fan for doing so," Kane said.
"This type of behavior is gross and unacceptable."
Kane went on to call the alleged conduct "pathetic" -- especially considering Cecily is a young warrior going through challenging times.
What makes things even worse -- Kane later shared a follow-up from someone DEFENDING Kings fans over the whole thing ... stating the awful human beings behind the alleged hateful actions had no other choice because he's "such a f***in scum bag."
"You make us spit on kids for being a dirty mother f***er," the user added.
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Evander and Cecily have been tight for some time now -- the two met through the Ben Stelter Fund, which helps young kids battling illness have once-in-a-lifetime experiences.
The alleged hate isn't affecting Cecily's pride, though -- she says she is still planning to go to Tuesday night's game back on home turf.