Celebrity Death

Internet sleuths believe they have found the jacket worn by the gunman who killed UnitedHealthcare CEO Brian Thompson ... and now it is morbidly flying off the shelves.

On Reddit, a user speculated the suspect's jacket was a Sherpa Lined Two Picket Hooded Trucker Jacket by Levi's ... sold at Macy's for the retail price of $225.

The jacket's popularity has since spread like wildfire on the company's website ... where more than 6,000 people were viewing the jacket at the same time -- and nearly 700 were sold in the past 48 hours, according to an item popularity tool on Macy's site.

Mark Withers -- a veteran actor who spend decades in the biz and appeared on such shows as "Stranger Things," "Magnum, P.I." and "Dynasty" -- has died.

In a statement to Variety ... Mark's daughter, Jessie, said the cause of death was pancreatic cancer ... and he died Nov. 22.

“He confronted his illness with the same strength and dignity he brought to his craft, creating a legacy of warmth, humor, and dedication, along with his remarkable ability to make every role unforgettable," Jessie said.

The suspect who killed UnitedHealthcare CEO Brian Thompson handled his gun proficiently during Wednesday's shooting -- something that's painfully clear, according to a former FBI agent.

Jennifer Coffindaffer spoke with us on "TMZ Live" Friday and broke down the suspect's expertise -- pointing out how he used a silencer on the gun, fully aware it could cause jams, and cleared it like a pro without missing a beat when it did.

Watch the video ... Coffindaffer digs into the suspect’s firearm skills and breaks down what the 3 distinct shots reveal about the man behind the trigger.

Private security firms have been inundated with calls since the cold-blooded murder of UnitedHealthcare CEO Brian Thompson ... but the high-profile case won't necessarily change how companies protect execs long-term, TMZ is told.

In the days since Thompson was shot dead on the streets of NYC ... multiple private security firms have been flooded with service inquiries and price quotes.

Ian Dahlberg, owner of Dahlcore Security Guard Services, tells TMZ ... there has been a noticeable uptick in calls -- from executes looking for private security to film studios wanting to beef up guards on the lot.

The masked assassin who took out UnitedHealthcare CEO Brian Thompson was caught on camera casually chatting on the phone just minutes before pulling the trigger, new video shows.

Surveillance footage shows a man decked out in the same dark outfit -- hat, ski mask, and gray backpack -- holding a phone to his ear as he strolled east on 54th Street toward the Hilton hotel on Sixth Avenue around 6:30 AM Wednesday -- just 15 minutes before the fatal shooting.

The NYPD said the killer showed up about 5 minutes before the attack, lying in wait for his target. When the moment came, he used a gun with a silencer to fire the shots that killed Thompson.

Taylor Lorenz -- a controversial journalist formerly of the Washington Post -- shared a photo of the Blue Cross Blue Shield CEO on the same day UnitedHealthcare CEO Brian Thompson was murdered.

Here's the deal ... Lorenz has posted multiple times to Bluesky and X in the aftermath of a gunman shooting and killing Thompson on a New York City street early Wednesday morning -- starting when Blue Cross Blue Shield announced it wouldn't cover anesthesia for the entirety of some surgeries.

TL shared the story on social media ... along with a picture of Kim A. Keck -- BCBS' CEO since 2021.

Liam Payne's good friend, who Buenos Aires authorities are going after for allegedly abandoning the late singer during a bender, says he's not the one at fault here ... instead pointing the finger at the hotel where Liam was staying.

Roger Nores' legal team filed new documents, obtained by TMZ, in Argentina and he basically makes the argument that he's not the one who should be investigated ... claiming the CasaSur Palermo Hotel played a big role in Liam's death.

In the docs, Roger says the hotel did NOT have a 24-hour doctor available ... even though he says they're required to have one under the law.

Liam Payne's friend is not off the hook for allegedly leaving him just an hour before his death -- a judge has cleared the way for prosecutors to continue their investigation against Roger Nores ... TMZ has learned.

As we reported, Nores insists he has not yet been charged with abandonment of a person followed by death -- and his attorney had filed documents claiming any case against him should be handled by local Buenos Aires prosecutors.

However, according to new docs obtained by TMZ, a judge now says Argentina's national prosecutors can move forward with their investigation into Nores' alleged role in Liam's death.

My Chemical Romance is saying goodbye to Bob Bryar, the band's former drummer who was found dead in his home last week.

The group just broke their silence on Bob's shocking death, posting a tribute on social media, saying ... "It is with a heavy heart that we say goodbye to Bob Bryar, our former bandmate and an important part of the history of My Chemical Romance."

The band adds ... "We send our deepest condolences to his friends and family at this time. May he rest in peace."

Wayne Northrop -- a longtime television actor who appeared in over 1000 episodes of the soap opera "Days of Our Lives" -- has died ... TMZ has confirmed.

The star's publicist, Cynthia Snyder, tells us ... Northrop passed away at the Motion Picture and Television Woodland Hills Home -- an assisted living facility for those in the film industry.

Northrop was diagnosed with Alzheimer's six years ago ... hence the need for assisted living care.

Bob Bryar -- the drummer for My Chemical Romance from 2004 to 2014 -- has died ... TMZ has learned.

Law enforcement sources tell TMZ ... Bryar was found dead in his Tennessee home Tuesday after last being seen alive on November 4.

There is no foul play suspected, we're told, because all of Bryar's weapons and music equipment in the home were left untouched.

Zayn Malik paid tribute to Liam Payne Friday night, telling the crowd he was hoping his former 1D bandmate would be looking down watching ... "I hope you're seeing this. We're in your hometown tonight, Wolverhampton. This is for you, Liam."

Zayn was performing in Liam's hometown in the UK, when he told the crowd at the University of Wolverhampton ... "I've been doing something, at the end of the show, every night, and it's been dedicated to my brother Liam Payne. Rest in peace."

When Zayn's "Stairway To The Sky" tour fired up last week, the crowd saw on the screen ... "Liam Payne 1993-2024. Love you bro."

Alabama A&M football linebacker Medrick Burnett Jr. has passed away at 20 years old after suffering a severe head injury during a game last month.

According to local officials, he died at 5:43 PM Wednesday evening at UAB Hospital.

Burnett Jr. was involved in the collision during A&M's matchup with Alabama State on Oct. 26 -- one day before his birthday. He received treatment in the ICU ... and according to his sister, had several brain bleeds and swelling.

Juice WRLD's posthumous release isn't getting a lot of love from his fans ... with many taking to X and calling the record an affront to his legacy.

"The Party Never Ends" -- JW's newest release -- dropped Friday ... and, while many were looking forward to the new record, some didn't feel it lived up to the late rapper's rigorous standards.

Look at some of the social media comments ... people are slamming every part of the production -- from track selection to underwhelming features and everything in between.

Alabama A&M football player Medrick Burnett Jr. is still alive and remains hospitalized with a head injury he sustained in a game last month ... this after the university announced he had passed away at 20 years old.

Alabama A&M tells TMZ Sports ... "We retract the news of the passing of Medrick Burnette Jr, that was originally advised by an immediate family member on Tuesday evening. Our staff acted accordingly to the wishes of the family member to inform the A&M community and beyond of this unfortunate occurrence."

"Upon hearing from a representative from UAB hospital this afternoon, we learned that he remains alive. We express our immediate regret for disseminating false information however, we hold complete joy in knowing that Medrick remains in stable condition."

Peanut the Squirrel's owners are gearing up for an upcoming legal battle ... filing an official notice of their intention to sue the State of New York for the death of their beloved pet.

Mark Longo and Daniela Bittner filed a notice of their intention to make a claim against the government for the death of Peanut and their raccoon, Fred ... alleging unlawful search and seizure, violation of freedom of speech, and other due process violations.

Longo and Bittner say the incident was the result of negligence, carelessness, and recklessness by the state of NY and its agents ... saying they may have violated due process laws by not revealing to a judge their intention to kill the animals after raiding Longo and Bittner's home.