Weapons & Guns

Former Eagles member Randy Meisner has been cleared in the bizarre shooting death of his wife.

As we reported, Lana Meisner died Sunday night from a gunshot wound ... this after she had called 911 an hour and a half earlier to report domestic violence. She claimed Randy was waiving a BB gun.

LAPD detectives have concluded she accidentally shot herself. It seems weird, because police say she was "moving a rifle that was stored inside the closet" when it accidentally went off. It's a little odd as to why she would be "moving" a rifle less than 2 hours after calling 911, reporting domestic violence.

The knife buried on O.J. Simpson's former Rockingham estate may hold lots of secrets, but unlocking them may be next to impossible ... with one glimmer of hope.

We spoke with a number of forensic experts who say a knife secreted underground for 4 years is likely to become contaminated by bacteria, chemicals and various microorganisms in the dirt, making it extremely difficult to get meaningful results in DNA tests.

The experts add the natural elements pose an additional, significant obstacle to DNA tests.

Here's the glimmer of hope. We're told if the 5" buck knife was folded when it was buried, the blade might be sufficiently protected to net a DNA match.

As we reported, LAPD cops privately say they always believe O.J. used a folding buck knife to kill Ron and Nicole, even though testimony in the trial suggested a fixed blade did the job.

The knife found buried on O.J. Simpson's former estate was more than capable of inflicting the mortal wounds on Nicole Brown Simpson and Ron Goldman ... so says the man who examined the wounds of the victims.

Dr. Irwin Golden, who served as the Deputy Medical Examiner, testified in the O.J. Simpson case and performed both autopsies, tells TMZ the folding buck knife could have severely cut both victims. Nicole was brutally attacked with a deep neck wound -- 2 1/2 inches deep and 5 1/2 inches across -- and Golden says a 4" blade could have done the deed. We broke the story ... the knife in question has a 5" blade.

Sources connected with the 1994 investigation and others involved in the evaluation of the knife tell us there was always a wide belief among LAPD cops that Simpson used a buck knife.

TMZ broke the story ... a construction worker found the knife buried on the perimeter of the property in 2002, gave it to a retired LAPD cop who never turned it in, instead taking it home and putting it in his tool box. The cop claims he alerted LAPD when he got it, but they expressed no interest.

Dr. Golden cautioned if the murder weapon was a buck knife it had to be "heavy." A knife expert tells us back in '94 buck knives were made with heavy American-made steel.

The knife is being tested for fingerprints and hair. Next week it goes to the serology unit for DNA testing.

The LAPD cop at the center of the O.J. Simpson knife mystery is a retired, 25-year veteran of the LAPD.

George Maycott was a motor cop for the LAPD, who retired with a clean record in 1998. Two months after Nicole Brown Simpson and Ron Goldman were murdered in 1994, Maycott shot and wounded a man who rammed his police car during a chase. Maycott was injured and taken to the hospital.

TMZ broke the story ... a construction worker at O.J. Simpson's former estate approached him with the 5" buck knife in 2002. Maycott insists he called the West L.A. Division of LAPD and informed them of the knife, but they said the case was closed and expressed no interest, so he took it home.

Maycott is now 70 years old and fully retired. He insists his sudden interest in putting the knife in an engraved frame had nothing to do with the renewed interest in the case because of the series, 'The People v. O.J. Simpson.' He swears he was not trying to profit by selling the weapon.

The cop who got hold of the knife that was found on O.J. Simpson's Rockingham estate says as soon as he got it he called LAPD, and they said they had no interest in it, and that's why he kept it.

Sources connected with the cop tell us, the officer retired in 1998 and in 2002 was working security on a movie shoot across the street when the construction worker gave him the weapon and told him the story.

We're told the cop called the West L.A. Division of LAPD and spoke with a female officer who was working the desk and explained the story and said the knife was "rusty, dirty and muddy."

The cop says the officer put him on hold for a while and a supervisor came on the line, who said, "This case is closed ... and O.J. was acquitted." The cop says the supervisor then discussed how O.J. could not be prosecuted again because of double jeopardy.

The cop says the supervisor showed no interest in the 5-inch buck knife, so the cop put it in his bag, took it home and put it in his tool box, where it sat for almost 15 years.

As we reported, he asked a buddy at LAPD Robbery Homicide if he could get the case number so he could engrave a frame and encase the weapon. The detective started asking questions, the retired cop explained how he got the knife and you know the rest ... so far.

We contacted several our our sources at LAPD who question the cop's story, saying it's strange if he was really interested in alerting the department that he did not call the Robbery Homicide Dept.

Katt Williams is on a Bonnie and Clyde style crime spree ... if you believe the 5 women who've now come forward claiming he and his crew held them at gunpoint.

The women say they ran into Katt and his 15-person entourage Sunday morning at 2:30 in downtown Atlanta. They say they noticed the comedian and asked for a photo, but when Williams noticed one of them was recording video ... he allegedly lost it.

The women say he punched one of them -- which started an all out brawl, until Williams took out a gun and pointed it at them. They claim he and his entourage took all their phones. One woman says she managed to grab a phone from their car ... and dialed 911.

When cops arrived Katt told officers a different story. He claims the women were harassing him, and one of them tried to snatch a chain from his neck ... and that's when he punched in self-defense. He does admit taking out a gun, but only because he heard one of the women mention a gun.

In the end, police made no arrests because there were no independent witnesses and no injuries -- but they are continuing to investigate.

As we've reported ... Katt was arrested the next day in an Atlanta suburb for allegedly punching an employee in a pool supply store.

The 5 women have lawyered up.

A former UFC fighter and his son were both shot during an armed robbery in Oklahoma Monday night outside of the gym where they were working out ... but both men are expected to survive.

Mikey Burnett -- who last fought for the UFC in 1999 -- was leaving the gym around 7:30 PM when he was approached by two men ... at least one of whom was armed.

Officials say Mikey's 18-year-old son saw the robbery and tried to fight off one of the robbers -- during the struggle, Mikey was shot multiple times in the abdomen. His son, Freddie, was shot in the leg.

Cops say the suspects ran off and fled in a nearby vehicle.

No arrests have been made -- but officials say there is a ton of security footage and a bunch of witnesses.

Mikey has undergone surgery and is expected to recover.

Soulja Boy and his posse started their day with drugs and guns and even flaunted it on the Internet ... which ain't the smartest move for a guy on probation.

Soulja posted several videos bragging about a wake and bake session at his house, but the one where his pal is waving high-powered handgun with an extended clip ... could get someone in big trouble.

Check out the video -- Soulja's sitting on the kitchen counter smoking while another guy stands behind him waving the weapon. SB lives in L.A., and in Cali it's illegal to buy a large capacity magazine (defined as more than 10 rounds).

Plus, Soulja is on probation for a weapons charge from 2014, so ... he's flirting with a violation.

The voice behind the viral "Damn Daniel" video fell victim to a prank Tuesday when someone called cops saying there'd been a shooting at his house.

Law enforcement tells TMZ they responded to a call around 1 AM to the Riverside, CA home after the caller said a boy had shot his mom in the head with an AK-47. However, it all turned out to be a hoax ... officers cleared the scene and determined no one at the house was involved.

The "Damn Daniel" video has blown up with nearly 294k retweets and 380k favorites.

We're told there are no suspects.

Here's a case of actually adding insult to injury ... because a former NFL wide receiver accidentally shot himself with a loaded gun -- and was then charged with a crime ... TMZ Sports has learned.

The man behind the trigger is 30-year-old Josh Morgan -- who spent 7 seasons in the league with the 49ers, Redskins and Bears.

TMZ Sports has learned ... cops in Virginia responded to a report of a man with a self-inflicted gunshot wound around 9 PM on January 31st.

We're told Morgan claimed he was cleaning the weapon when it accidentally went off ... leaving him with non-life threatening injuries.

He was hospitalized and we're told he'll be okay -- but now he's got a new set of problems because he's been charged with misdemeanor reckless use of a firearm and has a court date in March.

Chalk up another victory for Conor McGregor -- 'cause TMZ Sports has learned the UFC superstar will NOT be charged with a crime for allegedly driving around with a firearm in Ireland.

As we previously reported, cops in Conor's home country launched an investigation into the champ after he posted a picture appearing to show himself pointing a gun out of the window of a car.

McGregor later fessed up to brandishing the weapon ... but claimed the firearm was nothing more than an Airsoft gun he was using to practice for a possible movie role.

BTW, even brandishing an Airsoft gun in public could be a violation an Ireland.

But good news for Conor ... a rep for the Irish Police Force tells us the investigation is over and officials have determined "no offense was committed."

Congrats!

UFC champ Conor McGregor is under investigation by cops in Ireland for a gun related violation ... after he posted a pic of what appears to be himself with an automatic rifle.

George Zimmerman put down his guns long enough to shoot off his mouth instead at President Barack Obama ... accusing him of shedding crocodile tears over mass shootings.

Zimmerman, was leaving a shooting range near Orlando when he unloaded on a photog about what he calls Obama's phony, emotional outpouring over the Sandy Hook massacre during Tuesday's gun control news conference.

Zimmerman, the infamous shooter of Trayvon Martin, went even further with his rant -- taking issue with a bunch of things Obama said, and one thing he did NOT say.

NFL vet Shaun Smith set off a firestorm when he tweeted a photo of his handgun along with what sounds like a thinly veiled threat to his haters, but he says everyone's got him wrong.

The ex-Bengals and Chiefs defensive lineman says he was going back and forth with fans on Twitter about KC's upcoming playoff game, when things got a little heated. He tells TMZ Sports, "Everyone was talking all this macho stuff."

President Obama choked up and wiped tears from his eyes as he talked about children getting murdered in the wave of gun violence.

Obama took a moment to compose himself as he unveiled a series of executive orders on guns, including expanding mandatory background checks for some private sales.

7:18 AM PT -- TMZ Sports spoke with Early's mother who said her son "was in good spirits."

New York Knicks guard Cleanthony Early was shot in the leg during a robbery just after leaving a Queens strip club ... and his assailants made off with a gold necklace ... and the gold caps on his teeth.

According to the NYPD, Early was leaving CityScapes Gentleman's Club early Wednesday morning in an Uber when the car was boxed in by three other vehicles. Cops say a group of men approached Early and robbed him, shooting him once in the knee for good measure.

Police say Early called 911 and was taken to a nearby hospital. He's in stable condition.

Just last week, another New York Knicks player, Derrick Williams, was the target of of thieves ... who allegedly made off with over $600,000 in jewelry.