Weapons & Guns

The N.W.A. flick "Straight Outta Compton" just got christened with a drive-by shooting ... right in front of the movie crew.

Eyewitnesses tell TMZ ... the gunfire erupted outside the Compton Courthouse last week when some neighborhood guys, not actors, flashed gang signs at a passing car.

We're told the gunmen were NOT targeting the crew -- but since they were setting up outside the courthouse the bullets came dangerously close. One nearby civilian was hit, and collapsed next to the set ... but survived.

The L.A. County Sheriff's Dept. tells us the shooting is under investigation. They have not yet determined if it was gang-related.

The FBI, U.S. Attorney and Washington D.C. PD have opened a homicide investigation into the death of former Reagan Press Secretary James Brady who died this week ... 33 years after he was shot.

It's a weird turn ... John Hinckley Jr. shot Brady and Reagan outside a hotel in 1981, paralyzing the Press Secretary and seriously wounding the President.

Hinckley was found not guilty by reason of insanity, and the legal experts we spoke with say it is NOT a case of double jeopardy. Hinckley was charged with assault with intent to kill when he was tried. Murder is a separate crime.

Federal agents had to swoop in to help the high-caliber cowboys from Discovery's "Sons of Guns" locate a shipment of weapons -- including one incredibly destructive machine gun -- that got lost in the mail.

TMZ has learned the gun shop on the show -- Red Jacket Firearms -- recently sent some of their custom machine guns from Baton Rouge to Las Vegas for an event. One of the guns is nicknamed "Master Blaster" for good reason -- it combines a Saiga 12 gauge shotgun with a MAC-11 sub-machine gun!

Sources connected to RJF tell us some of the guns were leased from third parties, and when RJF's shipment back to Baton Rouge got delayed ... the owner of the weapons got pissed and snitched to the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, and Firearms.

We're told the owner reported the guns as missing, and ATF agents sprung into action to locate the weapons -- which are legal and licensed.

Turns out it was just a normal mail snafu -- however, we're told production on the TV show was halted until they got the all clear the guns were safe and sound.

Boys and their toys.

"Pippi Longstocking" actress Tami Erin has an ex-boyfriend who should worry about getting shot ... this according to her own father.

David Young -- Erin's ex live-in BF -- ran to court a few days ago for an order prohibiting Tami from coming near him. David says he broke up with Tami nearly 2 years ago and she went radio silent ... until last month.

David says Erin started calling him at his Merrill Lynch office and leaving threatening messages. He didn't think much of it, until he spoke with Mr. Longstocking, who told him his daughter was "very dangerous" and he had reason to believe she had a gun.

Katt Williams is a gun-toting lunatic who smashed a car window with the butt of the gun and then had the nerve to defame the alleged victims ... this according to the alleged victims

TMZ broke the story ... L.A. County Sheriff's deputies rushed to The Comedy Store in West Hollywood Tuesday after Katt allegedly pulled a gun on someone. Katt told us the story was BS ... saying he was threatened by gangbangers who then called cops to get him in trouble.

But the 4 alleged victims tell us ... they have nothing to do with gangs. They were outside the club shooting a documentary, "From the Hood to Hollywood."

They say they spotted Katt and asked if they could shoot him for the doc, but he angrily said no. They claim a woman then pulled up, popped the trunk, Katt went inside and pulled out 2 big guns ... then walked over to their car and smashed in the window with the butt of one of the guns.

The guy who was driving says the glass shattered and he suffered cuts.

The 4 filmmakers say Katt can expect a lawsuit.

As for Katt, he tells us, "Whatever the gangbangers say."

Katt Williams says whoever called 911 on him Tuesday night is a LIAR ... because he was NOT brandishing a gun at a West Hollywood comedy club.

Katt tells TMZ ... he was actually the victim ... verbally attacked and threatened by 4 gangbangers who repeatedly called him "Cuz" ... Crip slang referring to the rival Bloods gang.

The comedian goes on to say things got physical when the 4 guys followed him to his car and began assaulting him.

But Katt says he never pulled a gun ... never even had one. So the 911 call reporting he was brandishing a weapon is absurd ... or so he says.

As for who called 911 ... Katt is convinced it's was the gang members themselves. If that's true, it certainly goes against type ... gang members generally stay away from those digits.

"Real Housewives of Atlanta" star Kenya Moore is a big fan of guns -- she's packing lots of 'em -- but says "rednecks" with weapons in bars is a bad idea.

Kenya was out in Bev Hills when we asked her about Georgia's new Safe Carry Protection Act -- which makes it legal to carry guns into all kinds of dangerous places ... libraries, schools, churches, and bars too.

As for where Kenya plans to tote her guns -- bars may be out, but she explains why she'll always have one close.

Hear that, Porsha?

Katt Williams drew a gun on someone at the Comedy Store in West Hollywood Tuesday night ... triggering a 911 emergency that ended with deputies racing to the scene with guns drawn.

Eyewitnesses tell TMZ ... Katt was inside the club when a heckler started talking smack about the comedian's height and race. We're told Katt was not on stage ... he was milling around. An eyewitness says he went crazy, threatening the heckler with a gun.

At that point someone called 911 -- reporting a man with a gun at the Comedy Store -- and 6 cop cars raced to the Sunset Strip. Deputies pointed shot guns and bean bag guns at the club as they prepared for a confrontation.

Turns out ... Katt had already left.

So far no arrest warrant has been issued for Katt. Cops tell us they're still investigating.

Check the video ... Katt had some interesting things to say this past weekend ... after the GPen punk rock show in L.A.

There was a shooting at a Hollywood nightclub -- filled with famous rappers -- hours after the BET Awards.

The incident occurred at around 2:30 AM PT Monday at Supper Club. Someone fired a shot outside the club. One eyewitness tells TMZ the shooter was aiming at the Game's car ... although that does not appear to be the case. Another witness says the shot was fired in the air.

We're told no one was hit.

A witness says the man in the white T-shirt had a gun in his right hand at the time of the shooting and was running from the area where shots were fired.

A number of rappers were inside the club following the BET awards, including Game, Meek Mill, T-Pain, and Busta Rhymes.

Elyjah Marrow -- grandson of rapper Ice-T -- was arrested after he accidentally shot and killed his roommate ... TMZ has learned.

Cops tell us ... 19-year-old Marrow was fiddling with a handgun in his Georgia apartment Tuesday when it accidentally went off, fatally wounding roommate Daryus Johnson, who was also 19.

Marrow was charged with involuntary manslaughter, possession of firearm in the commission of a felony, and reckless conduct. He was also hit with possession of marijuana with the intent to distribute, and possession of a stolen firearm.

He is currently in custody.

Marrow appeared on his grandfather's reality show, "Ice Loves Coco."

So far ... no comment from Ice-T.

5:10 PM PDT -- A rep for Stern's family tells TMZ it's extremely upsetting their private tragedy has become public, saying "This unwanted attention has resulted in several false & hurtful speculations that do not truthfully describe the devoted, unselfish, accomplished & proud man Andrew was."
We're told the family chooses to honor his memory by remembering how he lived, not how he died.

Andrew Stern -- who committed suicide Sunday at a firing range -- tried to kill himself at another firing range in April ... days after he filed for divorce from "Deal or No Deal" model Katie Cleary.

The facts are chilling. We've learned Stern left L.A. in mental distress ... and went home to his parents in Ohio. On April 17 -- 8 days after filing for divorce -- Andrew's mom was so alarmed she called 911 and said he was trying to kill himself.

Andrew's mom told the dispatcher he was going to end his life in 1 of 2 ways ... either going into an enclosed garage with the car engine on, or going to a local firing range and shooting himself.

The 911 call begins with Andrew's mom speeding to the firing range, saying she checked the garage and he wasn't there.

By the time the mom arrived, cops were on the scene. Sources tell TMZ ... they were told by employees at the range, Andrew showed up but they turned him away because he seemed unstable.

Andrew left and got on the phone with Katie as he drove back to his parents' home. Cops arrived soon thereafter, determined Andrew was a danger to himself and he was taken to a hospital for mental observation.

And our sources say a month later cops from a different police department in Ohio went to Andrew's home for a wellness check, after a local doctor alerted authorities Andrew was in bad shape.

The husband of "Deal Or No Deal" suitcase model Katie Cleary shot himself to death ... just weeks after she was photographed getting cozy with Leo DiCaprio and Adrian Grenier.

Law enforcement sources tell TMZ ... Andrew Stern shot himself in the head Sunday while he was at a shooting range in the San Fernando Valley.

The 40-year-old businessman was married to Katie ... who was also a contestant on "America's Next Top Model." Katie was photographed in Cannes last month with Leo and the two seemed tight. There are also photos of Katie in Cannes with "Entourage" star Adrian Grenier.

We're told law enforcement interviewed various people after the suicide, including Katie, and they were told -- among other things -- he was suffering significant stress over marital problems.

Our sources say Katie told law enforcement she and Andrew -- who appeared on "Millionaire Matchmaker" before he got together with Cleary -- were in the process of getting divorced.

A source close to Leo tells us Katie and the actor never hooked up and he left the club with his GF Toni Garrn.

In addition to marital problems, law enforcement says Andrew had a history of depression and had financial issues.

Cops were ready for a gunfight when they responded to a shooting at the Schoolboy Q concert ... which is apparent from radio transmissions between dispatch and cops rushing to the scene.

TMZ has obtained audio of the chaotic conversations.  As the dispatcher explains that someone was shot in the head and another in the back ... it's apparent police are bracing for a violent confrontation.

A man with a rifle came out of the bushes and began firing at Q's SUV after a hip hop concert at Red Rocks Amphitheater outside Denver. The rapper -- who was detained (see pic) wasn't hurt.

Two of the victims are still hospitalized ... they're expected to be OK. The shooter has not been caught.

The man arrested for breaking into Sandra Bullock's house earlier this month didn't have just one machine gun ... he had an arsenal.

TMZ broke the story ... Joshua Corbett actually got inside Sandra's house while she was home. Police later found a machine gun at his home. Authorities just announced ... they now have more than 1 machine gun -- they have 7. And police found other weapons as well.

Our law enforcement sources say Corbett was NOT at Bullock's house to burglarize it ... he wanted to see her. Turns out he never did because she locked herself in a room.

"Goodfellas" actor Frank Sivero must still have friends in high places ... because he was sentenced to 90 days in jail on Wednesday -- but served less than a week.

It's a little sketchy what happened ... Sivero told TMZ at the time of his arrest ... he was escorting a lady friend out of an apartment building and when he got to the lobby -- to his surprise -- cops were there waiting for him, found he was in possession of a gun and arrested him.

According to legal docs -- obtained by TMZ -- part of the plea deal is that Sivero is not allowed to use force or violence against anyone, and the docs single out a woman. The docs don't say for sure if it's the same woman he was escorting out of the building.

Sivero -- known for playing pistol-packing mob guys in movies -- served 3 days this week before his release Friday night. He was also credited with 3 days for time served back in March. The probable reason he was released early ... jail overcrowding.

We're told Sivero cannot possess any deadly weapons for the next 36 months ... and he's required to attend AA meeting a week for 26 weeks. He also had to pay $220 in fines.

The man charged with breaking into Sandra Bullock's home Sunday was in possession of a machine gun ... according to law enforcement ... and we're told he wasn't after Sandra's property ... he wanted her.

Joshua Corbett was just charged with felony burglary as well as possession of a machine gun and stalking.

Bullock was in the house when Corbett allegedly broke in, and she locked herself in a room until police arrived. Her son was not at home at the time ... he was with a nanny.

Law enforcement sources tell TMZ ... they are positive Corbett did NOT break into the house to burglarize it ... he was there for Sandra. We're told he didn't want to harm her ... he wanted a face-to-face.