Ex-Hurricane Sam Bruce Died Due To Heart Attack ... Officials Say
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Former Florida high school football star Sam Bruce -- who was briefly part of the 2016 Miami Hurricanes team -- died due to a heart attack ... according to the medical examiner's report.
The Broward County Medical Examiner released the report, obtained by TMZ Sports, which revealed the cause of the issue was coronary artery disease.
Officials determined the manner of death was "natural."
As we reported, Bruce tragically passed away on April 28 after he suffered a medical episode while driving his car in Fort Lauderdale, Fla.
Bruce had become known nationally because of his play at powerhouse Florida H.S. St. Thomas Aquinas -- where he torched defenders so often, he earned the nickname "The Samborghini."
The do-it-all athlete eventually signed with the Hurricanes, but was dismissed for violations of team rules just months into his freshman season.
Bruce's death rocked the football world back in April -- with many current and former NFL players, including Chad Johnson, mourning the loss on social media.
Bruce was just 24 years old.
RIP.
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Trina Niece Shot And Killed In Miami
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Trina's family is reeling after the devastating loss of her niece, who was shot and killed in Miami ... TMZ has learned.
Sources close to Trina confirmed with TMZ that her niece, who the rapper endearingly referred to as Baby Suga, was killed Tuesday night ... telling us she was in the wrong place at the wrong time.
Law enforcement sources say it appears the teen was visiting the area, they're still investigating the circumstances surrounding the shooting to determine if the attack was random or targeted.
Suga and 2 other women sustained gunshot wounds during the incident ... the condition of the other 2 is not currently known.
A rep for Trina tells TMZ, "We kindly ask that everyone please respect the privacy of Trina and her family at this devastating time."
Baby Suga, whose real name was Toni Chester, was only 17.
RIP
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Charles Johnson Ex-NFL 1st-Round Pick ... Dead At 50
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Charles Johnson -- a former NFL first-round draft pick and Super Bowl champion -- has died at 50 years old.
The North Carolina high school he had been working at as an assistant athletic director confirmed the sad news on Tuesday ... writing in a tweet, "RIP Coach. You will be missed by so many, especially your Husky Family."
No cause of death has been revealed.
RIP Coach. You will be missed by so many, especially your Husky Family. #RIPCJ #HuskyFamily pic.twitter.com/JUfkjELMMB
— Heritage Huskies (@heritagehsfball) July 19, 2022 @heritagehsfball
Johnson was taken by the Pittsburgh Steelers at #17 overall in the 1994 NFL Draft -- just a few picks after the Colts took Marshall Faulk -- and he went on to have a solid pro career.
The 6-foot, 200-pound wide receiver played nine years in the league for the Steelers, Eagles, Patriots and Bills ... piling up 4,606 receiving yards and 24 TDs in his career.
Johnson ended up being a part of Tom Brady's first-ever Super Bowl win -- he was on the 2001 New England team that beat Kurt Warner's Rams at SB XXXVI.
He left the NFL following the 2002 season.
RIP.
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'AGT' & 'The Voice' Contestant Nolan Neal Dead At 41
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7:50 AM PT -- Cops say Neal's roommate called them after discovering his body in a bedroom. Officers say on the desk next to Neal's bed was a guitar pick that "appeared to contain a powder residue" and note that Neal allegedly struggled with substance abuse. Investigators are still waiting on the full results from the singer's autopsy.
Nolan Neal, a contestant on both "America's Got Talent" and "The Voice," has died.
Nolan passed away Monday according to the medical examiner ... Nolan's cousin Dylan Seals tells TMZ he was found dead in his apartment in Nashville.
No official cause of death has been determined, but the singer has talked openly about his struggles with substance abuse. During an interview with WBIR in 2020, he admitted that he was still struggling with addiction while he was competing on "The Voice."
Dylan tells us Nolan lived with him for 4 months prior to the pandemic ... when Nolan was clean, jamming out and making music with him.
Nolan was featured on season 15 of "AGT" ... making it all the way to the quarterfinals where he performed an emotional original piece, "Send Me a Butterfly."
During his audition for the show, he sang a song called "Lost," which he said was the first thing he wrote after getting clean. The performance got a standing ovation from the crowd and all 4 judges.
Nolan also blew everyone away on season 10 of "The Voice," getting picked to be on Adam Levine's team, and making it to the knockout round before he was eliminated.
Waiting for your permission to load the Instagram Media.
A Nolan Neal fan page posted Tuesday morning about his death, saying, "I can't believe you're gone from us" ... the caption ends with "Heaven just got a new music director."
Nolan was 41.
RIP
Originally Published -- 6:47 AM PT
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Baylor Bears Live Mascot Joy Dead At 21
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Tragic news for the Baylor community -- the university's live bear mascot, Judge Joy Reynolds, has died. She was 21 years old.
Joy -- who has been in the Baylor family since she was 4 months old -- passed away peacefully surrounded by her caregivers, staff and veterinary team, the school announced.
"One of Baylor’s treasured North American Black Bears, Joy will forever be remembered as an enduring symbol of Baylor’s spirit and tradition," the university said Monday ... adding the bear will be honored with a memorial on campus.
Joy -- who was named after wife of former Baylor president, Dr. Herbert H. Reynolds -- is survived by her sister, Lady, and brother, an animal actor in California. She was predeceased by an older brother.
Joy was beloved in Waco -- she was a big supporter of the Bears and participated in many charitable activities. In fact, she is also credited alongside Lady with being the first live mascots to ever post on Twitter, thanks to a "paw-friendly" app mounted inside their habitat.
The school says a memorial will be held for Joy when students return to campus in the fall.
RIP.
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Kevin Samuels Died from Hypertension
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Kevin Samuels died as a result of hypertension ... eliminating any possible suspicious circumstances surrounding the 57-year-old's death.
The Fulton County Medical Examiner's Office just released findings into Samuels' death, telling us he died due to hypertension -- high blood pressure. The ME says, "Evidence of hypertension includes a heart whose chambers are thicker than normal."
It appears Samuels was also taking a medication called Atenolol, because the ME notes in their findings that the medication is used to treat hypertension.
Samuels's death is classified as due to natural causes.
TMZ broke the story, Samuels, who was known for his controversial -- and sometimes not-so-appropriate -- dating advice died back in May.
At the time of his death, Samuels was with a mystery woman, and collapsed in his home. We obtained the 911 call the woman placed, and it was clear, she was desperate to help save his life ... performing CPR in order to try to help Samuels.
Social media buzz at one point thought maybe Kevin's death was suspicious, but according to the medical examiner's findings ... that just isn't the case.
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Bobby East Nascar Driver Stabbed to Death Suspect Shot by Cops
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11:05 AM PT -- Law enforcement sources tell TMZ ... a SWAT team executed a search warrant at an Anaheim-area apartment Friday -- two days after East was stabbed -- where officers were informed Millsap may be holed up. During the raid, an officer-involved shooting occurred ... we're told Millsap was shot and killed on the scene as the police were trying to arrest him. The Orange County DA is investigating the shooting.
NASCAR driver Bobby East was fatally stabbed this week by a drifter during a bloody altercation at a California gas station, police and media reports say.
Tattoo-faced Trent William Millsap is being sought by police in connection with East's murder, which occurred at a 76 gas station around 6 PM Wednesday, according to Deadline.
East reportedly got into a war of words with Millsap while the racecar driver was pumping gas. It wasn't clear what sparked the argument, but Millsap allegedly plunged a sharp object into the chest of East.
Cops were called to the scene and reportedly performed life-saving measures on East until paramedics arrived. East was then rushed to a local hospital, where he was pronounced dead.
Millsap, who had an outstanding parole warrant, is a drifter who frequents motels in the usually safe and crime-free Westminister area. He is considered armed and dangerous.
East was a three-time U.S. Auto Club champion who snagged the USAC Silver Crown Championships in 2012 and 2013.
Bobby was 37.
RIP
Originally Published -- 10:13 AM PT
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Ivana Trump Cause of Death Blunt Impact Injuries ... After Falling Down Stairs
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Ivana Trump's cause of death has been revealed as blunt impact injuries to her torso ... the result of a fall down stairs inside her home.
Law enforcement sources tell TMZ the autopsy was completed Friday. As we told you, cops got a call just after 12:30 PM ET Thursday to Trump's NYC apartment saying Ivana had gone into cardiac arrest.
As news of her death broke, former President Donald Trump, who was Ivana's second husband, said the following, "She was a wonderful, beautiful, and amazing woman, who led a great and inspirational life. Her pride and joy were her three children, Donald Jr., Ivanka, and Eric. She was so proud of them as we were all so proud of her. Rest In Peace, Ivana!"
Ivana and Trump married in 1977 and split in 1992, their relationship made headlines at one point when Donald had an affair with Marla Maples.
Shortly after her death on Thursday, Ivana's son, Eric Trump, was spotted outside her home ... telling photographers, "A very sad day."
Ivana was 73.
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William Hart The Delfonics Lead Singer Dead At 77
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William "Poogie" Hart, the Grammy-award-winning lead singer of the R&B band The Delfonics, has died, TMZ has learned.
His son, Hadi, tells TMZ ... William was having trouble breathing so he was recently taken to Temple University Hospital in Philadelphia, where he passed away Thursday from complications during surgery.
William and his brother, Wilbert, launched the Philly-based group in the late '60s with Randy Cain, Ritchie Daniels and Thom Bell. The group would have a major impact on the development of the Philadelphia sound, known as T.S.O.P.
William and Thom exclusively wrote all of the songs, including such hits as "La-La (Means I Love You)," "Didn't I (Blow Your Mind This Time)," "Break Your Promise," "I'm Sorry," and "Ready or Not Here I Come (Can't Hide from Love)."
In 1971, The Delfonics won a Grammy Award for "Didn't I (Blow Your Mind This Time)" for Best R&B Performance By A Duo Or Group, Vocal Or Instrumental.
'Didn't I' and 'La-La' were also featured in Quentin Tarantino's film "Jackie Brown." Other movies that have popularized their music were Spike Lee's "Crooklyn" and "The Family Man" with Nicolas Cage.
Their songs "Ready or Not Here I Come (Can't Hide from Love)" and "Funny Feeling" were played in the video game "Grand Theft Auto V" on a fictional radio station The Lowdown 91.1.
The original band split in 1975 after achieving twelve top-20 hits on Billboard's R&B and Soul Single Chart. Former members created splinter groups that continued to perform through the '90s and 2000s.
William was 77.
RIP
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Ivana Trump Dead at 73
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5:03 PM PT -- Police sources tell TMZ ... A female employee of Ivana arrived at Ivana's residence, unlocked the door, walked inside and discovered Ivana at the second-floor staircase on the right side -- she was not breathing.
1:54 PM PT -- Eric Trump and his wife, Lara, just left the apartment building.
1:46 PM PT -- Cops were seen outside her NYC apartment shortly after the news was announced.
12:56 PM PT -- Law enforcement sources tell TMZ, the NYPD got a call just after 12:30 PM ET saying Ivana had gone into cardiac arrest.
Donald Trump's first wife, Ivana Trump, has died.
Donald Trump said, "I am very saddened to inform all of those that loved her, of which there were many, that Ivana Trump has passed away at her home in New York City. She was a wonderful, beautiful, and amazing woman, who led a great and inspirational life. Her pride and joy were her three children, Donald Jr., Ivanka, and Eric. She was so proud of them as we were all so proud of her. Rest In Peace, Ivana!"
Ivana and Trump got married in 1977 and went on to have 3 kids, Donald Jr., Ivanka and Eric. Their breakup made national and tabloid news ... Donald was having an affair with Marla Maples and Ivana was furious.
There was an epic confrontation when Ivana saw Marla on the slopes in Aspen.
Ivana and Trump divorced in 1992.
Before the divorce, Ivana was in charge of remodeling the famed Plaza Hotel in New York City. During the divorce, Donald famously locked Ivana out of her office at the Plaza.
Their nasty split inspired the 1996 film "First Wives Club," in which Ivana had a cameo role and delivered the classic line ... "Don't get mad, get everything."
Ivana was born in Czechoslovakia in 1949. She was a skiing prodigy and a model before coming to the U.S. Because of her skiing prowess, she was allowed to get an Austrian passport and leave the Communist Eastern bloc -- first for Canada and then to the U.S.
She also created lines of clothing, jewelry and beauty products which she sold and promoted on QVC.
4/8/21
Despite their ugly public breakup, Ivana and Donald maintained a bond because of their kids, and she supported his run for the White House, saying ... "He'll be a great President."
After the divorce, Ivana married twice more -- she was divorced once before she married Trump -- and divorced her subsequent husbands.
Ivana was 73. RIP
Originally Published -- 12:46 PM PT
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Oregon Ducks' Spencer Webb Model Girlfriend Mourns Death ... 'The Love Of My Life'
"My best friend my twin flame the love of my life. I’ve never loved anything as much as i love you."
Those are the heart-wrenching words of Kelly Kay, girlfriend of Spencer Webb -- the 22-year-old Oregon Ducks tight end who tragically died on Wednesday -- and it's clear she's broken over the devastating loss of her BF.
"You were my everything, you gave me purpose, you showed me what it’s like to be cherished and valued and seen for me," Kay wrote.
"We had so many big plans. I don’t know where to go from here but I know you’ll be watching over me keeping me strong. You always put everybody else before yourself and I’ll try to hold the same kindness in my heart ❤️🔥"
If Kelly's name sounds familiar, it's 'cause she made national news in 2020 when she hopped a railing during Super Bowl LIV in Miami and briefly streaked on the field during the Chiefs vs. 49ers championship game.
Details surrounding Webb's death aren't entirely clear, but the Lane County Sheriff's Office says they responded to an emergency call Wednesday afternoon for an injured person. Despite rescue efforts, the man, who cops say fell and struck his head, couldn't be resuscitated.
FYI, Webb joined Oregon's football team in 2018 after starring in H.S. at Christian Brothers Academy in Sacramento. He went on to play in 20 games for the Ducks, and was expected to have a key role with the team this season.
Everyone from the University of Oregon, head football coach Dan Lanning, teammates, friends, family and fans have expressed devastation over the unexpected loss.
Kay ended her emotional message to her late boyfriend ... "from this life to the next one baby I love you so much and I’ll find you again 🕊🕸"
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Alex Murdaugh Charged with Killing Wife & Son
Alex Murdaugh — who’s at the center of a double murder scandal in South Carolina — has been charged with murder in connection to the killings of his wife and son.
The disgraced powerhouse attorney was indicted by a grand jury Wednesday, which heard evidence from prosecutors and decided there was enough to charge Murdaugh with two counts of murder ... according to the South Carolina Attorney General’s Office.
Maggie Murdaugh and 22-year-old Paul Murdaugh were found dead at the family’s hunting property last summer after they were shot and killed by what investigators believed were two different weapons. Alex told investigators he discovered them there after the fact, and claimed he had an alibi as to his whereabouts at the time of the murders.
Despite being a person of interest for a while, Murdaugh was never formally charged over their deaths. He was, however, arrested and charged for allegedly trying to stage his own death months later.
Murdaugh survived the ordeal — a gunshot wound to the head that left superficial injuries — but prosecutors claim his intention was to actually die, and have his surviving son collect a $10 million life insurance policy. Instead, he lived … and was subsequently accused of trying to hatch an elaborate scheme.
In addition to those charges, he’s also been hit with dozens of other charges over financial crimes — prosecutors claim he swindled various people out of millions of dollars through his legal practice.
Murdaugh has pled not guilty to all the charges thus far. He’s due in court later this week, and is expected to enter a plea on the new murder charges as well.
He’s currently being held in jail on a $7 million bond.
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Spencer Webb Oregon Ducks TE ... Dead At 22
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Oregon Ducks tight end Spencer Webb has tragically died, his teammates and coaches confirmed on Wednesday night.
He was just 22 years old.
"So full of life in every moment of the day," Ducks football head coach Dan Lanning said of Webb in a tweet on Wednesday evening. "Your smile and energy will be missed Spencer. I love you!"
The Lane County Sheriff’s Office said in a statement Wednesday night it responded to rock slides near Triangle Lake earlier in the afternoon after receiving reports of an injured 22-year-old. Cops said the man had been recreating and fell, striking his head. According to the statement, bystanders and first responders tried to help the man, but say he could not be revived.
Police did not name the victim in the statement, though The Sacramento Bee reports it was Webb.
"Shocked. Unbelievable. Unreal," Oregon wide receiver Isaah Crocker said of Webb's passing on his social media page Wednesday night.
Waiting for your permission to load the Instagram Media.
"You've been there since Day 1 and no matter what, I will keep our promise. Love you unconditionally. Truly more than family. You was my n****! There is no turning back…. Until we meet again🕊Love you 4💔 never thought it ever come to this day..❤️🕊🕸"
Webb joined the Oregon football team in 2018 after starring in H.S. at Christian Brothers Academy in Sacramento. He went on to play in 20 games for the Ducks, and was expected to have a key role with the team this season.
Rest easy lil bro @spencer_webb_18 . Great young man with a promising future gone too soon . 😔 pic.twitter.com/3jmQHmekL8
— Arik Armstead (@arikarmstead) July 14, 2022 @arikarmstead
"Rest easy lil bro," said NFL star Arik Armstead, who played at Oregon and interacted with Webb when he returned back to campus for games. "Great young man with a promising future gone too soon."
RIP.
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Henry Ruggs Back In Court ... 1st Appearance Since November
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For the first time since 2021, Henry Ruggs appeared in a courtroom in Las Vegas for a hearing in his DUI crash case.
The 23-year-old former Las Vegas Raiders star -- who was charged back in November 2021 with four felonies after prosecutors accused him of killing Tina Tintor and her dog in a fiery car crash -- showed up to the Nevada courthouse alongside his attorneys.
The judge denied the motion. Here’s Ruggs leaving the courtroom pic.twitter.com/yrrGZD3p0B
— Kyle Wilcox (@KyleNews3LV) July 12, 2022 @KyleNews3LV
During the hearing, Ruggs' lawyers argued that police had no probable cause to obtain a warrant to collect his blood following the car accident. They asked for the tests -- which cops say showed Ruggs had a BAC of .161 following the wreck -- to not be allowed to be used as evidence in the case.
The judge, however, denied the motion.
Ruggs appeared to be stoic in the courtroom as his attorneys spoke, displaying little emotion. He wore a white button-down shirt, a black bowtie, and blue pants and did not address reporters inside or outside of the courtroom.
Henry Ruggs was in court this morning where his lawyers argued that the results of his blood test should not be admitted as evidence. Justice of the Peace Ann Zimmerman denied the motion. Story to come. #RJnow pic.twitter.com/lVkXT5sgZO
— Katelyn Newberg (@k_newberg) July 12, 2022 @k_newberg
This is the first time Ruggs has been seen in public since late November 2021, when he was ordered to show up for a hearing over a missed breath test.
As we reported, Ruggs is facing more than 50 years in prison if he's convicted on all of the charges against him.
Records show his next hearing in the case has been set for September.
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Alabama Prison Escape Casey White Charged With Felony Murder ... Over Prison Guard's Death
Casey White, the inmate who escaped from an Alabama prison before getting caught, just got charged over the death of the prison guard who was on the run with him.
Casey is charged with felony murder in connection with the death of Vicky White, who died from a gunshot wound to the head when police were closing in on them.
The grand jury indictment, obtained by TMZ, alleges Casey caused Vicky's death in the course of committing escape in the first degree.
Remember ... Casey and Vicky were on the run for 11 days after his prison escape, leading to a national manhunt. They were tracked down to a small town in Indiana, where they got into a police chase and crashed their car in a cornfield. Vicky then allegedly shot herself in the head.
Casey was pulled from the wreckage and taken into custody ... and law enforcement officials said he showed no remorse in learning of Vicky's death.
Prosecutors say Casey, who is already serving a 75-year sentence for a 2015 crime spree, was served a copy of the indictment Monday in prison.
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Marion Barber III Died Due To Heat Stroke ... Officials Say
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3:39 PM PT -- According to the full autopsy report, obtained by TMZ Sports, Barber died after he had appeared to have been exercising in "sauna-like conditions" in his apartment.
In the documents, officials say Barber's body was found in his residence where the thermostat was set at 91 degrees and the heat was set to "on."
Investigators noted there was exercise equipment present at the scene, and said that Barber did, in fact, have a "history of exercising during sauna-like conditions."
According to the report, there was no evidence of trauma or drug overuse found inside of Barber's body, and "no clear evidence of natural disease found" either.
In a separate Frisco Police Dept. incident report, also obtained by TMZ Sports, officers say Barber had not been seen for around 3 weeks prior to the discovery of his body on June 1.
In the docs, officers say multiple people told them they tried to make contact with Barber throughout May as there appeared to be a leak coming from his apartment -- though all attempts were unsuccessful.
On June 1, according to the docs, officials forced their way into Barber's apartment, and found him dead inside the shower of his residence's master bedroom. They noted water had been running in the tub in the guest bathroom.
Former Dallas Cowboys star Marion Barber III died due to heat stroke, officials confirmed to TMZ Sports on Monday.
According to the Collin County Medical Examiner’s Office, Barber's death was ruled an "accident."
As we reported, Barber was found dead by the Frisco Police Dept. in Texas on June 1. He was just 38 years old.
The ex-running back, who was picked by the Cowboys in the fourth round of the 2005 NFL Draft, had shown no signs of trouble prior to his death, according to his attorney, Zoltan Papp.
Papp said Barber had started a trucking venture, and had also spent a large portion of the past few years trying to help kids in inner cities, while fighting for social justice.
Barber played in the NFL for seven seasons -- six with the Cowboys and one with the Bears -- totaling 4,780 rushing yards and 53 rushing touchdowns over 99 total games.
RIP.
Originally Published -- 2:45 PM PT