Texas Shooting Hijacked Mail Van Targeted Drivers ... 7 Dead, Over 20 Injured

UPDATE

7:45 AM PT -- 9/1 -- The death toll has now risen to 7 with nearly two dozen more injured. One of the injured victims is a 17-month old little girl who was struck by shrapnel.

UPDATE

4:22 PM PT -- Authorities in Texas say that at least 5 people were killed in the shooting rampage, and that at least 21 others were injured. The shooter, who police have identified as a white male in his 30s, is also dead.

UPDATE

3:42 PM PT -- President Trump just weighed in on the shooting, saying that he was being briefed by his AG, William Barr, and that the appropriate law enforcement agencies were fully engaged.

UPDATE
UPDATE

Ex-congressman and presidential hopeful Beto O'Rourke also weighed in on the news, saying ... "Our hearts are with Midland, Odessa, and everyone in West Texas who has to endure this again. More information is forthcoming, but here's what we know: We need to end this epidemic."

UPDATE

3:38 PM PT -- Midland Police have confirmed that there was just one active shooter on the road, and that person is now dead after being gunned down by police at a movie theater in Odessa. Authorities are saying there is no longer an active shooting threat.

UPDATE

3:21 PM PT -- Eyewitnesses on the ground appear to have captured video of police closing in on the mail van driver, and it sounds like some shooting occurred. No word if the suspect is dead, but it looks like at least one of the shooters is officially off the road.

UPDATE
UPDATE

3:16 PM PT -- According to the Texas Department of Public Safety, one suspect is in custody after 13 people were shot. It's unclear if this suspect was the mail van driver, or the Toyota truck driver. The extent of injuries on the ground is also unclear at this point.

Police in Texas say at least two active shooters in two separate vehicles -- one of which is a mail van -- are firing rounds at drivers on the road ... and 2 people are already dead.

The Midland Police Department are warning motorists between their city and neighboring Odessa to stay indoors, as someone in a gold and white Toyota truck and another person in a USPS postal van are shooting folks at random from within the vehicles. Authorities are saying the mail van was hijacked by at least one of the suspects.

The mayor of Midland, Jerry Morales, told the media that at least two people have already been killed and and possibly up to 20 others are injured, so far. The two suspects are said to have initially gone on a shooting spree at Home Depot near Odessa.

They are still at large, and clearly armed and dangerous.

One university has warned students to stay indoors as police deal with the situation.

Story developing ...

Originally published -- 8/31 3:09 PM PT

Sirhan Sirhan RFK Assassin Stabbed in Prison

Sirhan Sirhan, the man who assassinated Robert F. Kennedy, was stabbed in a California State prison Friday, and the attack is so severe he's been removed from the prison for treatment.

Sources at Richard J. Donovan Correctional Facility tell TMZ Sirhan was assaulted Friday afternoon around 2:30 PM in one of the prison yards. Law enforcement sources tell us correctional officers at the prison in San Diego County responded and found Sirhan with stab wounds.

We're told he was transported to an outside hospital for medical care, and is currently in stable condition.

Our sources say the suspect in the assault on Sirhan has been identified and has been placed in isolation. We're told an investigation has been launched to determine if charges will be filed.

Sirhan assassinated RFK during a Presidential campaign rally in 1968 at the Ambassador Hotel in Los Angeles. He fired the deadly shots from a .22 caliber revolver moments after the candidate had been spoken to supporters.

Among the men who subdued and disarmed Sirhan on the scene were Olympic gold medalist Rafer Johnson, former pro football player Rosey Grier, and authors George Plimpton, Jimmy Breslin and Pete Hamill.

Sirhan was later convicted of murder and sentenced to death, but three years later, his sentence was commuted to life in prison.

Other notable inmates housed at R.J. Donovan include Suge Knight, Lyle and Erik Menendez, Jesse James Hollywood and Manson Family member Tex Watson.

Ariana Grande Back in Manchester for Pride Event ... 1st Time Since 'One Love'

UPDATE

3:05 PM PT -- Ariana has taken the stage in Manchester, and she's already a few songs deep into her set. So far, she's performed "No Tears Left to Cry," "Be Alright," "Side to Side" and other tracks. AG also took a moment to acknowledge what the gay community has meant to her throughout her life, and went on to shout out Manchester specifically.

UPDATE

The audience loved it.

Ariana Grande is coming back to Manchester to spread love more than 2 years since her benefit concert following the bombings there -- now doing a show for Pride.

The pop star will be in Manchester Sunday, where a live concert is being put on ... this following two days of other festivities, including a parade. Ariana is set to take the stage in Sunday's lineup, which includes other artists like Pixie Lott, Tulisa and Becky Hill. It's unclear what time exactly she'll come on -- she's the headliner for Sunday, so probably late.

This will be the first time AG has stepped foot in the city since June 2017, when she hosted the One Love benefit concert a couple weeks after a bomber detonated a homemade device that sent a bunch of nails flying in the rotunda area of Manchester Arena.

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CHAOS IN THE ARENA

Ariana's concert at the time was winding down, but at least 22 people were killed nonetheless ... with several others being injured. It caused a massive panic inside.

The free benefit concert she put on afterward, which was organized with the help of her manager, Scooter Braun, drew tons of people and raised a lot of cash, upwards of $3 million.

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ONE LOVE

Ariana was joined by other music acts like Justin Bieber, Katy Perry, Coldplay, Black Eyed Peas and others -- which made for a really sweet moment in the city.

We'll be on the lookout for her performance. Stay tuned ...

The audience loved it.

Originally Published -- 12:33 PM PT 

Kim Kardashian Joins Hubby Kanye for Dayton, OH Trip ... Cheesecake, Anyone???

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FAMILY DINNER

Kim Kardashian has now joined Kanye West's in Ohio ... and they're doing cheesecake for dinner.

Kim and Kanye were spotted leaving a Cheesecake Factory restaurant Saturday evening in Beavercreek, OH -- a city about 15 minutes outside of Dayton -- where they were ushered into a waiting SUV with security nearby.

We're told their son Saint, and daughter North, were with them for the hour-long dinner, which got started 6 PM. No word on what they chowed down on, but it's Cheesecake ... they got a lot of options (no specials though, apparently).

Anyway, Kim and Kanye definitely weren't trying to stay on the down low -- check out our video. You see them interacting with the crowd outside ... from a safe distance, of course. Kim said hi to some fans, and Ye flashed a peace sign.

Kim's appearance here comes a day after Kanye was seen roaming the streets of Dayton with other family members, including what looked like some of his kids.

Ye is doing a Sunday Service in the area, which would line up with a show Dave Chappelle is putting on the same day to honor those who died and were injured in the latest mass shooting. As you know, at least 9 people were killed ... less than 24 hours after another mass shooting in El Paso, TX, which claimed more than 20 deaths.

PGA Tour Championship Lightning Strikes at FedEx Cup ... 6 Injured, Including Child

A lightning bolt struck a PGA Tour Championship golf course this weekend -- and it ended up hurting a number of people ... including one kid.

The scary moment happened Saturday afternoon at the East Lake golf Club in Atlanta, GA at 4:45 PM ET, when lightning struck a tree in the middle of the third round of the FedEx Cup Championship -- which was on a brief break amid stormy skies.

The lightning reportedly sent a bunch of debris flying, and that struck at least six people ... one of whom was reportedly a child. Nobody was hit by the thunder bolt itself, and thankfully ... no one is said to have suffered life-threatening injuries. Terrifying, nonetheless.

Paramedics arrived shortly thereafter to treat the victims, and the scene couldn't have been more chaotic with folks lying out, waiting for help ... and being carried away on stretchers. Eyewitnesses on the ground say the moment sounded like a bomb going off on the course ... and you can see why.

The moment the lightning hit the tree was captured on camera from afar, and even in the still images of the strike ... you can see sparks, if not outright fire, emitting from the tree. There are reports of the tree catching fire, but it must've been put out quickly.

All game play was suspended for the day after the natural disaster, and the tourney is expected to resume Sunday morning.

April Ryan Denies Ordering Assault on Journo Claims Filming Was No-Go

UPDATE

3:50 PM PT -- Charlie Kratovil tells TMZ that April should blatantly condemn the alleged attack unleashed by her ex-bodyguard, although he says he welcomes the news that the guy is no longer in her employment.

April Ryan is going on TV this weekend to explain how and why a reporter was allegedly roughed up by her security this month, but we've learned she's denying responsibility.

Sources close to the White House correspondent and CNN contributor tell TMZ ... April insists that she did NOT give her security the go-ahead to remove, let alone get physical with, New Jersey reporter Charlie Kratovil a few weeks ago at an event she was speaking at.

Unfortunately, it appears that's exactly what went down ... and it got ugly fast.

On August 3, the New Brunswick Today journo told cops that April's bodyguard, Joel Morris, snatched his phone away from him while he was recording April's remarks at the Heldrich Hotel, and then twisted his wrist in an attempt to get him outta there.

April took to social media Saturday, teasing her appearance on CNN Sunday ... where she'll presumably tell her side of the story about the dust-up.

The whole thing was partially captured on Kratovil's smartphone camera, and you can hear what sounds like a physical confrontation. Before that though, you see Kratovil recording April come up to the podium -- where she's addressing some politicos -- but gets interrupted by Morris, whom we're told whispered to her, "Ms. Ryan, stop talking."

She does, giving him a head nod at the same time, and then stands up there silently while her guard walks over to the reporter. It's all downhill from there ... watch.

Our April sources tell us that the reason she stopped talking is because she and her team have a strict policy on people recording her speak in public, to avoid having her words taken out of context. We're told Kratovil was NOT pre-approved to film her here.

It should be noted -- in the police report filed by Kratovil, obtained by TMZ, he told cops he'd been invited to the event by a PR person who wasn't on hand to confirm or deny.

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IT'S A DANGEROUS PLACE
TMZ.com

As for why she even has security with her in the first place, well ... she gave us the rundown on that back in November, after she'd received multiple threats on her life.

Anyway, our sources tell us April is doubling down on the fact she didn't sign off on how Kratovil was handled, as she's a huge advocate for First Amendment rights. BTW, Kratovil has a history of filming confrontational encounters for NBT ... it's kinda his thing.

Morris was ultimately booked for assault, harassment and theft, and he'll reportedly be arraigned next month. Either way, we're told he no longer works for April.

We've reached out to Charlie Kratovil for comment ... so far, no word back.

Originally published -- 2:43 PM PT

RBG Treated for Pancreatic Cancer

Ruth Bader Ginsburg has overcome yet another health scare, recently getting treated for pancreatic cancer.

The Supreme Court announced Friday RBG was recently treated for pancreatic cancer in NYC and said, "the tumor was treated definitively and there is no evidence of disease elsewhere in the body."

A rep for the high court said, "Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg today completed a three-week course of stereotactic ablative radiation therapy. The focused radiation treatment began on August 5 and was administered on an outpatient basis to treat a tumor on her pancreas."

RBG August 2019
LAST TIME WE SAW HER
TMZ.com

We got RBG at the airport in D.C. Friday and she seemed to be in good spirits.

The Supreme Court said the abnormality was first detected after a routine blood test in early July, and a biopsy performed on July 31 confirmed a localized malignant tumor. They said as part of the treatment, a bile duct stent was placed.

Proving her toughness yet again ... the Supreme Court said, "The Justice tolerated treatment well. She cancelled her annual summer visit to Santa Fe, but has otherwise maintained an active schedule" and added, no further treatment is needed at this time.

This is the fourth time the 86-year-old's dealt with cancer. She had also been treated for early stages of pancreatic cancer in 2009 but most recently she underwent a pulmonary lobectomy to remove 2 nodules from her lung. Doctors removed all of the cancer.

RBG also underwent surgery to successfully treat colon cancer in 1999. She underwent a heart procedure in 2014 to have a stent placed in her right coronary artery.

#ToughAsNails

Dale Earnhardt Jr. Officials Credit Pilots For Saving Driver & Family

Officials are crediting the heroic actions of the pilots on Dale Earnhardt Jr.'s private jet for evacuating the NASCAR legend and his family from his burning plane during the crash, this according to new documents.

After the plane crash landed in Elizabethton, Tennessee on August 15 ... it caught fire and began to burn.

NASCAR legend Dale Earnhardt Jr. was a passenger on an airplane that caught fire after crashing in Tennessee ... and officials tell TMZ Sports he was transported to a nearby hospital.
THE CRASH SITE
Scott Reis

But, while the flames raged, "the flight crew [which only consisted of the pilot and co-pilot] secured the engines and assisted the passengers with the evacuation," according to the National Transportation Safety Board.

The NTSB has been investigating the crash and while they have not specifically released the cause ... they do note that the landing gear on the plane collapsed at some point during the crash landing.

Officials say everything about the flight appeared to be routine until the landing ... when, for some reason, the plane bounced twice on the runway ... before crashing with only 1,000 feet of runway left.

The plane ultimately settled on the edge of a nearby highway where the flight crew evacuated Dale Jr., his wife, their 1-year-old daughter and the family dog.

Dale says he suffered back injuries in the wreck but expects to be fine. The rest of the family and the two pilots are all reportedly doing fine.

As part of the investigation, officials recovered the plane's black box -- but it was damaged in the fire ... so it's been sent to a lab for examination.

U.S. Customs System Back Online ... After Massive Failure

JFK Customs
THE GROWING CROWDS
@Baird_S
UPDATE

2:44 PM PT -- The system is back online. They have not determined the cause.

UPDATE

2:30 PM PT -- A source who is an official from Customs and Border Protection tells TMZ, "There is no indication of nefarious activity at this time." That said, CBP still doesn't know why the system failed.

UPDATE

2:23 PM PT -- Law enforcement sources at one of the country's biggest airports tell TMZ, they are "openly talking" about the possibility of a cyber attack, although they have not been briefed by Customs and Border Protection. CBP says it's trying to determine how the system went down, but is offering no answers or theories.

There is chaos at airports across the United States, because the entire U.S. Customs system has failed.

Customs officials haven't figured out what happened, and obviously one thing that comes to mind is a possible cyber attack, although officials haven't said that's even a working theory.

The lines at major airports, including JFK, LAX and Dulles, are insane. People are being processed manually, and it's taking forever. As planes land, the lines just get bigger.

It appears the entire computer system for the U.S. Customs and Border Protection has failed.

It appears the borders are also without computer systems, and again everything that needs to be checked is being done so manually.

An official at LAX says, "Officers are processing passengers manually so please check with your airline for the latest status of any flight impacts."

As of now ... no one from CBP is even speculating on what caused the outage ... all they're saying is they are working on the problem.

Story developing ... 

Originally published -- 1:45 PM PT

Philadelphia Shooting At Least 6 Cops Shot ... Suspect is Barricaded, Keeps Firing Rounds

UPDATE

5:32 AM PT -- 8/15 -- Philadelphia Police Sgt. Eric Gripp confirmed early Thursday morning that the suspect was taken into custody.

UPDATE

6:09 PM PT -- Philadelphia Police Commissioner Richard Ross says the standoff is still ongoing, with no end in sight, because the gunman continues to fire rounds out the window and refuses to speak with negotiators. He called it a “horrible” situation.

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Philadelphia Cops
ACTIVE SITUATION
ABC
UPDATE

Ross says officers responding to the incident had to escape through windows and doors, and they returned fire. 

UPDATE

He says the 6 officers who were shot did not suffer life-threatening injuries, and everyone is expected to be OK.

Pandemonium erupted Wednesday afternoon when a gunman in Philadelphia opened fire on police officers ... striking at least 6.

The gun battle's still active in the North Philly neighborhood of Nicetown-Tioga ... where dozens of cops can be seen taking cover while surrounding a home with at least 1 barricaded suspect. The attack was reportedly triggered after cops tried serving a warrant there.

A deputy commissioner with Philadelphia PD said the 6 cops wounded by gunfire suffered non-life-threatening injuries. The deputy commissioner also said a 7th officer was hurt in a crash while responding to the scene. According to the report ... the gunman fired repeatedly, reloaded and continued to fire.

Temple University's nearby Health Sciences Center is under lockdown and cops are asking residents to avoid the area. SWAT and ATF agents are on the scene assisting police.

The shooting comes just one day after a California Highway Patrol officer was shot dead after a routine traffic stop in Southern California ... and 10 days after the Dayton shooting.

Story developing ... 

Originally Published -- 3:47 PM PT

Times Square Panic Bikers Won't Be Charged ... When Motorcycle Backfires Caused Stampede

More than a dozen Times Square tourists are nursing injuries after fears an active shooter was opening fire caused mass chaos -- but it turns out, it was just a bunch of motorcycles backfiring. 8/6/19
COMPLETE MAYHEM

The group of bikers who triggered massive panic in Times Square will NOT face criminal charges ... because cops decided there was no crime.

Law enforcement sources tell TMZ ... authorities reviewed surveillance footage from last week's chaotic scene. They determined the group of bikers obeyed all traffic laws and didn't intentionally try to make it sound like there was an active shooter ... so, no reckless endangerment charges for causing the mass panic.

We're told surveillance video showed the bikers riding on 42nd Street when the group stopped at a red light. When the light turned green, they throttled up, and that's when a couple bikes backfired.

We're told footage shows only a handful of people initially ran for cover, before full-on panic set in. Understandable, given the uneasiness following the recent mass shootings.

As we reported ... hundreds fled in all directions, triggering a stampede while seeking safe haven. About a dozen people suffered non-life-threatening injuries.

Billie Eilish Tarred & Feathered ... Music Vid From Hell!!!

Billie Eilish
LIGHTS, CAMERA ... FEATHERS
BACKGRID

Billie Eilish has a vision of what hell is really like ... tarring and feathering herself on the set of her upcoming music video ... and the images will stick with you!!!

The 17-year-old alt-pop singer got down and dirty filming the video for her track, "all the good girls go to hell" ... throwing on a huge set of feathery wings and completely covering herself in heavy black makeup that looks just like sludge.

The imagery is pretty powerful ... you see Billie slowly rising up from the ground, bogged down by the tar and feathers, as she sings for the cameras. At one point, she switches into a pure white look with some perfectly clean feathers for some serious angel vibes.

If you paid attention in history class, you might recall learning about tarring and feathering ... an old form of public humiliation used in feudal Europe, and even here in America.

But, history lessons are boring, so Billie's music video also has FIRE ... massive flickering FLAMES and a HUGE EXPLOSION!!!

'Bad Santa' Star Tony Cox Hits Kid on Bike With His Car

UPDATE

1:59 PM PT -- Law enforcement sources tell us the incident was an accident and the actor is not at fault. He was not arrested and was not issued a summons for the collision. 

Tony Cox -- who starred alongside Billy Bob Thornton as his elf sidekick in the 'Bad Santa' films -- just delivered a terrible gift to an unlucky kid ... a foot injury and a busted up bike.

The veteran actor struck the boy on his bike Thursday in L.A. as he was turning right onto a street, while the kid was cruising through the crosswalk. As you can see ... the collision resulted in the bicycle's front tire getting pinned under Tony's ride.

We're told the kid suffered an injury to his foot as he was knocked off his Schwinn ... but was alert and conscious after the accident. EMTs arrived shortly afterward and he was taken to the hospital ... thank God he was wearing a helmet.

We've placed a call in with the LAPD who says they're still investigating the incident.

Cox started his career in 1980s in films like "Spaceballs" and "Dr. Heckyl and Mr. Hype." He's also been in "My, Myself & Irene" with Jim Carrey.

Originally published -- 1:12 PM PT

Ex-JetBlue Flight Attendant Infamous for 2010 Tirade, Emergency Escape ... Missing in Mexico

Steven Slater -- the ex-JetBlue flight attendant who went on a profanity-laced tirade in 2010 and deployed the emergency slide -- has gone missing in Mexico ... TMZ has learned.

The Chula Vista Police Department tells TMZ ... Slater was reported missing Tuesday in Tijuana after friends pled with the public just days prior to help find him. Cops say friends told them they had not been able to get in touch with Slater since Sunday.

It's the video everyone has been waiting to see ... the moment flight attendant Steven Slater popped open the door of his JetBlue aircraft ... and jumped down an inflatable slide.
THE ESCAPE
KNBC

On that day, Slater -- who moved to Tijuana about a week ago -- posted on Facebook he was visiting a monument in the city but has not been seen or heard from ever since.

We're told cops have notified Mexican authorities about Slater's disappearance.

Slater made headlines 9 years ago after a heated argument with a passenger aboard a flight from Pittsburgh to NYC. His viral moment came after swinging open the jet's side door, deploying the emergency chute and sliding down with beers in hand.

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DETAILING THE INCIDENT

The f-bomb meltdown was triggered after a passenger wanted to get her luggage from the overhead compartment as the jet was taxiing. He pled with her to sit but she smacked him. He asked for an apology. She refused and that's when he lost it.

According to witnesses at the time, Slater got on the intercom and cursed the entire plane before signing off with, "I've been in this business for 28 years. I've had it. That's it." After sliding down the chute, he hopped on the AirTrain shuttle and drove home, where he was ultimately arrested.

P!nk Manager and Crew Crash Land in Denmark ... Everyone's OKAY

P!nk's manager and crew are lucky to be alive after their private jet crash landed and burst into flames in Denmark hours after leaving her show in Norway.

The scary incident went down in the early hours Tuesday at the Aarhus Airport, when the plane apparently missed the runway and crashed into the turf beside it.

P!nk's manager and other members of her tour team were among the 10 aboard the Cessna 560XL. They were coming from her concert in Oslo Monday night, on their way to Denmark to prepare for her next tour stop.

Thankfully, everyone on the jet escaped without injuries. They were taken to a nearby hotel for the night. P!nk was not on the flight.

It's not yet known what caused the crash landing, but the plane reportedly caught fire as it was making its final descent at 12:38 AM. Danish air crash authorities are investigating.

P!nk is scheduled to perform Wednesday night, and it's believed the show will go on despite the terrifying ordeal for her crew. She's currently touring Europe as part of her Beautiful Trauma World Tour.

Toni Morrison 'Beloved' Author Dead at 88 Oprah: She Was 'Our Truth-Teller'

UPDATE

12:40 PM PT -- Oprah just posted a picture of Toni during her first appearance on 'Oprah.' She also penned a touching tribute ... calling Toni "our conscience. Our seer. Our truth-teller." Oprah, of course, played the lead in "Beloved."

UPDATE

Nobel and Pulitzer Prize-winning novelist Toni Morrison is dead ... according to her publisher.

The critically acclaimed American writer -- perhaps best known for her 1987 best-seller, "Beloved" -- passed away Monday night surrounded by loved ones. Her publicist and publisher both confirmed the news, but didn't say anything about a cause of death.

Toni was a renowned figure in literature, with multiple novels under her belt that spoke to the African-American experience. "Beloved," "Jazz" and "Paradise" made up a loose trilogy -- with the first book being adapted into the 1998 film starring Oprah and Danny Glover.

Other notable works include "Song of Solomon," "The Bluest Eye" and "Sula."

Toni wrote 11 novels in her life, many non-fiction books, 5 children's books, two plays, two short fiction stories and one libretto. She also wrote several essays and university papers.

She won a Nobel Prize in literature in 1993 -- becoming the first African American woman to achieve the honor. President Obama also awarded her the Presidential Medal of Freedom in 2012. On politics, she wrote an essay shortly after the election of Donald Trump for the New Yorker titled "Mourning for Whiteness," calling out white supremacy.

A documentary about Toni's life was made this year called "Toni Morrison: The Pieces I Am." She had two children -- her sons, Slade and Harold.

Toni was 88. RIP

Originally Published -- 7:26 AM PT