News

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.

A San Diego plane crash last month shook the music world when it was discovered a famed producer and beloved metalcore drummer were killed ... and now we have a better idea of what caused the tragedy.

TMZ broke the news that Daniel Williams -- former drummer for the metalcore band The Devil Wears Prada -- was among the six people killed in the May 22 crash.

According to an FAA preliminary report viewed by TMZ ... authorities determined the pilot --believed to be well-known music producer Dave Shapiro -- was flying the Cessna S550 too low due to poor weather conditions on his descent to Montgomery-Gibbs Executive Airport. The aircraft clipped power transmission lines about 90 feet high, 2 miles out from the runway -- and plummeted into a neighborhood.

Cuba Gooding Jr. didn't mince words when asked about the escalating tensions between Israel and Iran potentially dragging the USA into war -- saying when you put everything in perspective, war is just flat-out ignorant.

TMZ caught up with the actor at LAX Wednesday ... he remarked on the brutality of war being propelled by men in powerful positions who are making decisions to wipe people off the planet, just to make their point.

Cuba points out how we're all constantly exposed to the anger and devastation from all corners of the world now thanks to the internet -- what used to be a one-sided view of heroes and villains has morphed into something far more personal.

Ted Cruz may want to scratch Tucker Carlson's eyes out ... 'cause the Senator from Texas was just hit with a bizarre new insult during their contentious convo -- with TC calling him a "sleazy feline."

The two men sat down for a wide-ranging interview -- mainly focused on foreign policy -- and, Tucker's stance against going to war with Iran led Ted Cruz to seemingly sling accusations of antisemitism at him.

Check out the clip ... the senator asks why Tucker's obsessed with the influence of Israel over American foreign policy while showing no concern with the influence countries like China, Japan or Great Britain might exercise.

Whoopi Goldberg says life for Black folks in the United States is just as bad as it is for women in Iran ... and it sounds like she's willing to die on this hill.

Things got heated Wednesday on "The View" when the topic turned to the Middle East ... with Whoopi getting super racial.

Ya gotta see the clip ... Alyssa Farah and Sara Haines are talking about not defending Iran over human rights abuses when Whoopi cuts them off and says don't go there, because America is not much better.

Tucker Carlson went scorched earth on Ted Cruz ... blasting him for supporting Trump's aggressive policy on Iran while knowing the very basics about the country.

It's the best evidence so far there is a fissure in MAGA over U.S. involvement in foreign conflicts.

Tucker went right for the jugular ... asking Cruz if he knew the population of Iran. Ted threw up his hands, confessing ignorance. Tucker became his dramatic self as he laid into Cruz for his lack of knowledge.

D.L. Hughley’s not here to tell people to pipe down and keep quiet in the midst of law-enforcement and military responses to immigration-enforcement protests -- he says breaking the law just may be exactly what’s needed right now ... just like Rosa Parks did.

The comedian went off on "TMZ Live" Tuesday, speaking about escalating protests in L.A. against ICE raids targeting undocumented immigrants, and city-imposed curfews as a result -- and he makes it crystal clear ... civil disobedience is sometimes the only reason we have certain freedoms that we do, and sometimes the only way to fix a broken system is to disrupt it.

D.L. also took aim at the heavy military presence in L.A. right now -- pointing out there are currently more personnel stationed in Home Depot parking lots than in Afghanistan ... so if they’re bringing that kind of force, they should expect a response just as strong.

Disturbing notebooks found in the vehicle of Vance Boelter -- the man accused of targeting and shooting Minnesota lawmakers this weekend -- reveal just how strategic he was in allegedly planning the brutal killings.

The acting U.S. Attorney for Minnesota released images of Boelter's alleged notes ... and they appear to show meticulous planning, including a list of websites offering addresses and other info about the alleged targets' homes -- and even how long the websites' free trials lasted.

Authorities confirmed more than 45 Minnesota individuals -- state and federal officials, many of whom support abortion rights -- were named in these notebooks ... and several had their addresses listed as well.

Captain Ross "Rusty" Aimer -- a retired United Airlines pilot and the CEO of Aero Consulting Experts -- dissects potential reasons why the solo Air India survivor walked away from the tragic crash site where hundreds died ... and he says it may have everything to do with where the man was sitting.

As you know, last week, an Air India flight tragically crashed moments after taking off, killing more than 200 passengers on board -- but, one flier was seen walking away from the explosion, practically untouched.

Capt. Rusty tells us there's not necessarily a "safest" seat a person can sit in on a plane, but if you can get as close as possible to any emergency exit door, your chances of walking off a plane if it goes down definitely increase.

Vance Boelter -- the suspected killer of Minnesota State Representative Melissa Hortman and her husband -- allegedly texted his family, "Dad went to war last night," in the wake of his shooting spree ... according to the feds.

Prosecutors say Boelter fired off the text hours after his alleged deadly rampage across four towns in Minnesota, where law enforcement says he visited the homes of four state lawmakers with the intention of killing them.

The feds say Boelter texted his family around 6:15 AM Saturday ... "Dad went to war last night ... I don't wanna say more because I don't wanna implicate anybody."

12:50 PM PT -- Vance Boelter appeared in federal court Monday afternoon, where his bail was set at $5 million. His next hearing is scheduled for June 27.

Vance Boelter -- the suspected killer of Minnesota State Senator Melissa Hortman and her husband -- allegedly went to the homes of four different politicians with the intent to kill them ... according to the state's top prosecutor.

Joseph Thompson, the Acting United States Attorney for the District of Minnesota, says Boelter made a bunch of stops early Saturday morning ... first going to the home of Minnesota State Senator John Hoffman in Chaplin, where he shot the politician and his wife before fleeing the scene. Boelter was posing as a police officer, wearing a uniform and driving a vehicle resembling a police SUV, authorities have said.

Thompson says Boelter then went to Maple Grove and rang the doorbell at the home of an unnamed State Representative's house ... but the lawmaker was NOT home as she was on vacation with her family.

A wild new angle shows the sole survivor of the deadly Air India crash casually walking away from the burning wreck -- and once again, it’s unreal to see him just strolling off like it’s no big deal.

Watch this ... passenger Viswash Kumar Ramesh is literally on the phone as he walks -- not limps -- out of B.J. Medical College's gates in Ahmedabad -- and the crowd's in total shock.

From this new wide-shot angle, it doesn't even look like the 40-year-old British citizen has any injuries -- a stark contrast to the first video that dropped after the crash, where cuts and bruises were clearly visible.

A Fox News Guest seemed to have too much fun celebrating the huge military parade Saturday ... slurring her speech on-air after posting a pic of champagne -- though she insists she wasn't drunk like some online have claimed.

Rebekah Koffler joined the cable TV network during the big parade meant to celebrate the U.S. Army's 250th anniversary Saturday ... and, she started on a long, rambling segment during which she seemed to slur her words.

Check out the clip ... the two show hosts seem confused about what she's saying as she stumbles through her spot on TV.

2:51 PM PT -- Boelter's alleged vehicle -- a Buick sedan -- was just towed away from the scene ... and, now law enforcement is searching homes in the surrounding area.

Police have discovered a car they believe Vance Boelter -- the suspect in the shootings that left one Minnesota politician dead and another gravely injured -- was driving ... abandoned far from the scenes of the crimes.

The Sibley County Sheriff's Office told CNN ... they found the car they believe Boelter was driving about 50 miles southwest of the Twin Cities Sunday morning. The shootings occurred in Brooklyn Park and Champlin -- two suburbs of Minneapolis.

CBS reports that a discarded cowboy hat was found near the vehicle. Remember, a photo obtained by law enforcement yesterday showed Boelter in a Minneapolis business with a cowboy hat on. Unclear if this is the same one.

The best friend and roommate of suspected Minnesota gunman Vance Boelter says he received a haunting message from Boelter just hours after Saturday’s shocking shooting spree that left two people dead and two others wounded.

David Carlson told Minnesota news station KARE that around 6 AM Saturday -- shortly after former Democratic state Rep. Melissa Hortman and her husband were found shot to death, and Sen. John Hoffman and his wife were injured in another shooting -- Boelter sent him and another friend a disturbing farewell text.

"David and Ron, I love you guys. I made some choices, and you guys don’t know anything about this, but I’m going to be gone for a while. May be dead shortly, so I just want to let you know I love you guys both and I wish it hadn’t gone this way," he allegedly wrote.

Chaos broke out at a peaceful protest in Salt Lake City over the weekend when gunfire rang out during a "No Kings" demonstration, sending two people to the hospital and prompting a swift police response that led to three arrests.

According to Salt Lake City Police, officers heard shots Saturday night where a massive crowd of protesters had gathered. One person was critically injured in the shooting and rushed to a nearby hospital.

The suspected gunman, who had reportedly been walking with the crowd before the violence erupted, also sustained a gunshot wound and was taken into custody after officers tracked him down. He remains hospitalized.