Weapons & Guns

Police and prosecutors believe podcast host Adam Grandmaison's life really was in danger when a guy busted in during his live stream and put a gun to his head ... 'cause the suspect's been charged, and he's still behind bars.

The hip-hop host of the "No Jumper" podcast -- known as Adam22 -- was violently interrupted while recording his show Sunday when the gunman pointed his weapon at Adam and threatened his life.

According to the L.A. County D.A.'s office ... the suspect, 24-year-old David Tran, has now been charged with one count of attempted second-degree robbery. He's still in custody and being held on $100k bail.

After video of the scary moment surfaced, many skeptics wondered if Adam staged it for publicity. Adam spoke to us and made it clear -- it was 100 percent real and serious, and everyone was fortunate there were no deaths ... especially the gunman.

As we reported ... Adam's security at his BMX and clothing store took control of the situation by quickly taking the guy down, and Adam ended his live stream and called the cops.

2:15 PM PT -- Anthony Comello's attorney, Robert C. Gottlieb, tells TMZ that his client has waived extradition Monday and will be arraigned in a Staten Island court next week. Gottlieb also tells us that Comello has been placed in protective custody after receiving "serious threats," where he will remain while his case is pending. Gottlieb adds that Comello's family cannot believe the accusations against Anthony, and promises to get to the truth of the matter.

The man suspected of killing Gambino crime boss Frank Cali came to court with a message on his hand ... "United We Stand MAGA Forever."

Anthony Comello faced a New Jersey judge Monday and displayed his left palm with words written with a blue ballpoint pen. A court officer scoffed at Comello -- who was arrested and taken into custody over the weekend -- asking him why he was waving his hand to reporters. His response ... "Why? I'm handcuffed," suggesting he couldn't do any harm by showcasing his palm.

Our law enforcement sources said cops believe Comello may have murdered Cali because the mob boss was blocking him from dating Cali's niece.

You'll recall, domestic terrorism suspect Cesar A. Sayoc pledged allegiance to Trump ... festooning his van with tons of pro-Trump stickers and allegedly sending pipe bombs to CNN, President Obama and others.

Then there's Florida shooter Nikolas Cruz, who wore a MAGA hat during target practice just months before killing 17 people at his former high school.

12:32 PM PT -- Adam22 tells TMZ ... the gunman came THIS close to getting shot and killed after someone in his crew pulled out his gun and pointed it at the assailant's head. Adam told us, "That's the thing I'm thankful [about], this guy didn't get killed cause it was really, really close to happening."

Adam also tells us how the assailant managed to get inside the clothing store where the alleged crime went down. And, Adam's adamant ... this was NOT a skit or a joke. It was legit.

Scary moment for the podcast/YouTube host who got held up at gunpoint ... and it all happened during his live stream.

Adam Grandmaison -- better known as Adam22 -- was in the middle of filming his popular hip-hop podcast, "No Jumper," Sunday night in L.A. when some guy, out of nowhere, pulls a gun on Adam22, who was filming from a back room at his popular BMX and clothing store, ONSOMESHIT.

Watch the vid ... the gunman demands Adam22's money and threatens, "Do you want to die right now?" as a harrowing 14 seconds unfolds during the live YouTube broadcast to nearly 900k subscribers. Moments later, it appears security takes control of the sitch ... by knocking out the would-be thief.

You can later hear someone scold the crap outta the assailant saying, "Don't you f***ing pull up on us with a gun you little bitch. What the f*** is wrong with you?" In a separate video, you can also see the gunman barely conscious on the ground throwing the peace sign before he gets kicked.

Adam22 ended the live stream and called cops. LAPD responded to the scene and the gunman was arrested and taken into custody. The podcaster somehow managed to take the moment in stride.

He cracked jokes on Twitter to his more than 500k followers, "One minute you're tweeting jokes about f***ing cats and the next minute you got a gun to your head."

Originally published -- 6:43 AM PT

3/17 -- Law enforcement sources tell TMZ ... cops are investigating whether Cali's killing was over a family dispute -- namely, whether Cali blocked Comello from dating his niece. We're told police believe this is something that could've possibly motivated Comello to shoot Cali.

2:21 PM PT -- The NYPD held a press conference Saturday, saying Anthony Comello is in custody and expected to be charged for Frank Cali's murder. NYPD Chief of Detectives Dermot Shea told the media that they believe Comello is the shooter. He's currently being held in a New Jersey jail but will be charged in Staten Island. No word on an official motive.

Police have apprehended a person of interest in the murder of Gambino crime boss, Frank Cali ... TMZ has confirmed.

Law enforcement sources tell us cops picked up a white 24-year-old man in New Jersey Saturday morning, who is now being questioned in connection with the killing.

As we reported ... someone rolled up to Cali's Staten Island home Wednesday night and opened fire on the mob boss, apparently running him over as well.

Our sources say the man was apprehended in Jersey in the vicinity of a blue pickup truck -- which is significant to the investigation. According to investigators, witnesses say they saw a man in a blue pickup truck slam into Cali's parked car, prompting him to come outside.

Police say about a minute after Cali confronted the man who'd struck his car, the other guy pulled out a handgun and fired 12 shots ... 6 of which hit Cali. Cops say Cali then tried to crawl under the back end of the other guy's truck before the man drove away.

We're told the 24-year-old, who has yet to be identified, has not been arrested or charged with a crime as of yet. He's simply someone cops wanted to talk to. Our sources also tell us the dude -- whom we're being told is from Staten Island -- was tracked down in part through his cell phone.

Also interesting ... we're told cops don't believe the murder was actually mob-related, as it appears to be more of a personal dispute than anything else.

Cali reportedly took over as head of the Gambino family in 2015. John Gotti was the "boss" before going down for murder and racketeering in 1992.

3:48 PM PT-- Soulja's lawyer, Fred Minassian, tells TMZ the judge released him today pending a hearing on March 29. He says, "There was no finding in regards to his probation violation."

1:38 PM -- The rapper's been released from jail and he immediately took to Instagram Live to joke and rant about the arrest. Soulja Boy jokes he's gonna rock his jail ID wristbands on stage for his gig at Staples Center. He says he's still gonna perform at the Clippers game Friday night.

Check it out ... he also says he's NOT going out like Tekashi69, who is behind bars on racketeering charges. He also calls himself the hottest rapper in the game before peacing out.

Soulja Boy has been arrested ... and it sounds like the same old story -- he allegedly can't keep his hands off firearms and ammo.

Soulja went to see his probation officer Friday morning in the San Fernando Valley, and when he showed up he was cuffed and taken to jail.

Here's what we know. Soulja is currently on probation and the offenses go back 8 years ... when he was convicted of weapons violations. In 2016, while he was on probation, cops descended on his home after the rapper threatened people online. During their search, cops found at least one weapon, which was a violation of Soulja's probation.

A judge extended his probation again, making it clear ... NO WEAPONS.

Fast forward to last month ... cops executed a search warrant at Soulja's home after a woman claimed he held her hostage in his garage ... something he denied. Our law enforcement sources tell us during the search, cops found ammunition, which he's not allowed to possess while on probation.

Apparently, cops waited to make their move, knowing he was going to show up to see his probation officer, and that's when they swooped in and arrested him for another probation violation.

The rapper's currently in jail in Van Nuys. He'll appear in court later Friday to face a judge.

Soulja is supposed to perform at a Clippers game Friday night -- and seemed pretty confident he'd be there in a video posted just before his arrest. We'll see if he shows.

Originally Published -- 9:31 AM PT

Gianni Russo wasn't just in "The Godfather," he claims to have deep mob ties -- and tells TMZ there's NO WAY the hit on Gambino crime boss Frank Cali was carried out by the Italian mafia.

And why? Because Russo says the killer broke a SACRED mafia rule that no Italian mobster would dare to violate.

"I don't think it was an Italian hit or a Family hit because they shot [Cali] in front of his family's house. They don't do that," Russo explained.

Russo played Carlo Rizzi in "The Godfather" -- who famously betrayed the Corleone Family, only to be whacked in a hit orchestrated by Michael Corleone.

Russo also says he was an errand boy for the mob back in the day -- and had close mobster friends, including Gambino mob boss Paul Castellano, who was killed in 1985.

As for Cali, officials say the 53-year-old mobster was shot to death in a hit in front of his Staten Island home. The killers also ran over his body after the shooting.

Russo says Italian mobsters respect an unspoken rule that family homes are sacred -- and that's why he believes the shooting was probably motivated by money and drugs, and not mob politics.

Officials say they're investigating the shooting -- but so far, no arrests have been made and no suspects have been identified.

Frank Cali -- the boss of the legendary Gambino crime family -- was murdered in front of his Staten Island home Wednesday night, officials confirm.

It's the first time a high-profile mafia boss has been shot and killed in public since Paul Castellano was whacked in front of the famous Sparks Steak House in Manhattan in 1985.

Officials say Cali was in front of his home when someone rolled up and opened fire, striking 53-year-old Cali in the torso multiple times. Reports say he was hit 6 times.

Cali's wife and children were reportedly inside the house when the shots rang out.

The perps also RAN OVER the mafia boss in an apparent attempt to make sure he was killed.

Someone called 911 and Cali was transported to a hospital in Staten Island where he was pronounced dead.

Cali -- known as the acting Gambino mafia boss -- began his rise to power after John Gotti went down for murder and racketeering in 1992.

He reportedly took over as "boss" in 2015.

Cali famously kept a low profile -- the opposite of Gotti. He was known as a unifying figure in the mafia world who was making more allies than enemies.

Cops say they are investigating the Cali murder -- so far, no arrests have been made.

7:58 PM PT -- We just got Felicity and Mossimo after posting bail ... and it was clear they didn't want to talk.

5:28 PM PT -- Multiple law enforcement sources tell TMZ, Lori Loughlin will turn herself in to federal authorities Wednesday morning. The FBI showed up at her doorstep early Tuesday morning, and she was going to receive the same treatment as Felicity. Turns out, Lori was shooting in Vancouver and wasn't there. FBI agents arrested her husband in the college bribery scam, and then made arrangements with Lori's people for her to surrender when she returns to L.A.

Felicity Huffman knew she was a target of the federal investigation into bribery in the college admissions process ... but she had no idea 7 feds would show up at her door Tuesday morning with guns drawn.

Sources familiar with the arrest tell TMZ, 7 FBI agents showed up at Felicity's Hollywood Hills home at 6 AM and drew their weapons as they ordered Felicity to come out and surrender.

We're told Felicity, her husband William H. Macy and their 2 daughters were asleep when the agents ordered her out. Our sources say she knew the arrest was looming and would have gladly surrendered on her own, but the feds saw it differently.

An FBI source familiar with the arrest tells TMZ guns were drawn as a precaution. It's always left to the agents' discretion whether to draw a firearm during an arrest.

The agents took Huffman to a federal building where she was processed by federal marshals.

As we reported, Huffman was indicted for conspiracy to commit mail fraud and honest services mail fraud. The indictment claims Huffman made a charitable contribution of $15,000 to participate in a college entrance exam cheating scheme on behalf of her eldest daughter. The indictment claims the daughter was given twice the amount of time to take the SAT as other students and the paid proctor agreed to secretly correct her answers afterward.

The docs claim the girl got a 1420 score ... approximately 400 points over her PSAT.

Originally published -- 3:40 PM PT

Kim Kardashian West is making sure one man recently released from jail will have a roof over his head for the next 5 years -- she's picking up his rent bills -- TMZ has confirmed.

Matthew Charles -- who had served 20 of his 35-year sentence for a non-violent drug and weapons charges -- was the first to be released under new prison reform laws. Charles recently had his housing application denied because of his background.

Sources familiar with the situation tell us Kardashian heard about Charles' story and wanted to do what she could to help ... so she's going to pay his rent for the next 5 years.

Kim first heard of Charles' story through an article posted on Twitter -- Charles was first granted early release in May 2016 by mistake -- and two years later was ordered to finish out the rest of his sentence. Charles was able to start to get back on his feet by purchasing a vehicle and staying with friends ... but had a hard time landing a place to live.

We're told Kim reached out to Charles and his friend privately Sunday and generously offered to pay his rent and to help him find a stable place to live.

Charles posted about the good news Sunday, saying, "I just received the most wonderful news tonight that I just had to share with everyone. Kim Kardashian-West heard about my situation. Was moved and has decided to help me."

Kevin Gates had to be rushed offstage during his Texas concert as shots rang out ... starting a stampede for the exits.

Kevin was performing Saturday night in Corpus Christi at an outdoor venue -- the Concrete Street Amphitheatre -- and was close to wrapping up the show around 11:30 PM when the shots were fired.

The audience started fleeing first, then security yanked Kevin away.

We're told there was no announcement made -- everyone just kinda reacted. Fight or flight.

Police were already on scene for crowd control and determined the gunshots were NOT from inside the venue. We're told it appears to have come from a neighborhood adjacent to the amphitheater.

Tyga's got a pretty strange cure for the repo man blues -- he's simply buying even more luxury rides ... somehow, someway.

Sources familiar with the deal tell TMZ ... Tyga purchased a red, 2019 Rolls-Royce Cullinan -- the luxury line's new SUV. We're told he picked it up about 3 weeks ago, ironically, shortly before he got manhandled at Floyd Mayweather's party over a Maybach that got repo'd.

In fact, that's the whip he hopped into after the nightclub incident where he tried to pull his bodyguard's handgun. The Rolls goes for about $325k, but that's a base model.

If that's not shocking enough ... we're also told Tyga was shopping Wednesday in Bev Hills for a brand new Lamborghini and could pull the trigger on it any day now.

We'd love to just to be happy for the guy, but NONE of this adds up.

Besides the Maybach repo, he's also dealing with a $128k lawsuit for bailing on payments for a Ferrari and a Rolls-Royce.

BTW, while he had time to shop for a Lambo this week, he couldn't squeeze a court appearance into his schedule, so there's now a warrant for his arrest.

Point is ... Tyga loses the You-Owe-Us-Money-For-That-Car game -- time and time again -- yet he keeps on playing. Good luck, car dealers!!!

If the deals go south, we know a guy who can help 'em recoup their losses.

4:50 PM PT -- Law enforcement sources tell us that authorities did NOT find an explosive device at the daycare center.

4:15 PM PT -- Chicago PD just confirmed the details of the bomb scare to TMZ ... saying multiple calls came in Saturday reporting a bomb threat, adding that the daycare center was evacuated. Luckily, no one was injured ... but cops are still investigating.

The woman who paid for R. Kelly's bail got a bomb threat at a business she reportedly owns ... which just so happens to be a daycare.

Multiple people called in a bomb threat Saturday at a local daycare center ... according to WBBM reporter Brad Edwards, who first reported the story. Valencia P. Love has direct ties to the biz, and some reports say she's the owner.

Edwards goes on to report that Chicago PD doesn't have anyone in custody and that the local bomb and arson squads cleared the scene. Cops are currently investigating the bomb threat.

Love is reportedly still listed as a "registered agent" of the daycare center -- but according to local outlets, the daycare itself and the Dept. of Children and Family Services says Love no longer works there.

You'll recall ... Love posted the $100k bond R. Kelly needed to get out jail in Chicago last week. She also posted a lengthy statement afterward, saying R. Kelly wasn't a monster ... and that she was inclined to believe he's innocent of the charges he's facing.

The bomb threat would appear to have been made by someone pissed at Love for supporting Kelly.

Still, it's reminiscent of the shooting threat that was called in just a few months ago during the NYC screening of "Surviving R. Kelly." Law enforcement sources told TMZ ... the NYPD was looking into someone with a Chicago area code as a person of interest.

R. Kelly's ex-wife, Andrea Kelly, told Variety that she believed R. Kelly was connected to that threat.

BlocBoy JB is handling a slew of criminal charges head-on -- cops in Tennessee say he turned himself in peacefully Thursday morning.

The Memphis MC was busted on multiple charges ... according to the Shelby County Sheriff's Office. You'll recall authorities over the weekend said BlocBoy was wanted for possession of drugs and drug paraphernalia, being a convicted felon in possession of a handgun and for theft of property.

Since the cops put out the alert on him, the rapper posted several videos on Instagram ... which certainly made it seem like he was NOT planning on going easily. It's unclear who or what convinced him to surrender.

BTW ... BlocBoy became a huge deal in February 2018 after dropping his hit single, "Look Alive" ... featuring Drake.

Super BTW ... BB's "Shoot" dance -- which went viral after appearing in the track's popular music video -- is the subject of a lawsuit against Fortnite.

YNW Melly tried hatching an elaborate scheme to trick cops into thinking his buddies were killed by someone other than him and a pal -- at least, according to cops.

According to YNW's booking report out of Miramar, FL -- obtained by TMZ -- the rapper's friend, Cortlen Henry, drove to an ER in the wee hours of Oct. 26, asking for help for his two friends in his car, whom he claimed had been shot in a drive-by.

Cops say that the victims -- Anthony Williams and Christopher Thomas Jr. -- were pronounced dead at the hospital. They were both shot in the head, torso and back. Police say it was a grisly scene ... blood splattered about the car.

Cortlen told police he and his two pals had just wrapped a late night studio sesh, and as he was pulling off the freeway ... a car pulled up on his driver's side and opened fire. Cops confirm there were 8 bullet holes along the right side of the vehicle -- where Williams and Thomas sat. Cortlen escaped injury.

As police investigated Henry's account, they found forensic evidence leading them to believe he lied and was covering up a very different murder.

Cops say they found a shell casing inside the vehicle, along with 8 matching shell casings in a different location, where cops think YNW and Henry shot up the car to make it look like a drive-by.

Cops say the initial shot was fired from inside the vehicle -- not outside, as Henry claimed -- and originated from the left rear passenger side of the car, which is where they say they later discovered YNW had been sitting.

Police say surveillance footage from the recording studio shows YNW, Henry, Williams and Thomas getting in the car to leave. YNW got into the back left seat.

Cops say after Williams and Thomas were shot, YNW and Henry drove around with the dead bodies "for a period of time" before driving to the hospital. Henry later told police YNW was, in fact, in the same car with them ... but exited at some point and got in another car.

Something else that doesn't help YNW ... a documentary about his life and career, that cops say they watched ... which "glorifies his use and possession of firearms." Oh, and he's also got a song called "Murder On My Mind." It's dark stuff.

Floyd Mayweather says he ain't mad at Tyga for trying to pull a gun at his birthday party over the weekend -- in fact, Floyd says the rapper will still be invited to the next big bash.

We broke the story ... Tyga was physically removed from Floyd's 42nd birthday party at the Sunset Room on Saturday night after getting into a heated altercation with another man inside the event.

Our cameras captured a FIRED UP Tyga as he reached into his security guard's gun holster and tried to grab the pistol. Fortunately, the quick-thinking guard snatched the gun from Tyga, preventing what could have been a deadly situation.

Our sources tell us ... Tyga was furious after being accused of missing payments on a fancy Maybach car. He flipped out. Tyga says the two sides later talked things out and everything is cool now.

So, when we saw Mayweather at Ace of Diamonds in L.A. on Monday night, we asked if Tyga will be blacklisted from future Floyd events.

"I don't care that Tyga got in a fight in my party ... guess what?! It was good publicity for my party!"

Floyd also says he'll be invited back for the next shindig -- and doesn't really seem too worried about possible gun violence.

After all ... it's not the first time Floyd's been close to a situation involving firearms. Remember, last year someone opened fire on Floyd's entourage in Atlanta, striking his bodyguard, Greg La Rosa.

Tyga got booted from Floyd Mayweather's birthday bash over 2 very common issues for the rapper -- money and the repo man.

Witnesses inside the Sunset Room tell TMZ ... moments before Tyga got dragged out of the club, he was approached by several men from whom he had leased a white Maybach -- and not in a friendly way.

We're told Tyga had a deal to pay $6,000 a month for the Maybach, but he fell behind on his payments and the men had the luxury car repo'd last month. So, when they crossed paths at the party, an argument erupted and Tyga started threatening the men.

You know what happened next ... security grabbed Tyga by the neck, dragged him out of the club and onto the street, where Tyga tried to pull a gun off his bodyguard.

As for why Tyga got so heated -- we're told he feels the Maybach was unlawfully repossessed.

Tyga's been down this road before ... it's the second Maybach he's lost to the repo man, and he also had a Ferrari swiped.

The good news ... it's all water under the bridge now, because Tyga says he's made-up with the men and the bouncer.