Celebrity Deaths In 2024 Liam Payne, Cissy Houston, Richard Simmons

2024 will be remembered for many shocking events ... and here, we remember celebrities who tragically died over the last calendar year.

Liam Payne shocked the world when he fell to his death from a hotel balcony in Argentina ... and the former One Direction member's death is still under police investigation, with lots of moving parts involved.

12 years after Whitney Houston's death and 9 years after Bobbi Kristina Brown's passing, the Houston family suffered another sad loss ... the passing of singer Cissy Houston, Whitney's mom and Houston matriarch, occurred in October. She passed away at the age of 91 after battling Alzheimer's disease in hospice care.

Roger Nores on Liam Payne Drugs Almost Killed Him Multiple Times ... Long Before Fatal Fall

Liam Payne's drug use had him "close to death" on multiple occasions ... long before his fatal fall from a hotel balcony in Argentina ... at least according to his friend, Roger Nores.

In new legal documents from Argentina, obtained by TMZ, Nores recalls Liam's drug issues ... claiming the late One Direction singer had to be revived two times in as many years.

Nores is charged with abandoning Liam before his fatal fall back in October, and he's defending himself against criminal charges here ... by talking about Liam's drug habit.

Rey Mysterio Uncle Dead At 66 ... Legendary Mexican Wrestler

Rey Misterio Sr. -- legendary wrestler and uncle to WWE Superstar Rey Mysterio -- has passed away at the age of 66, his family announced Friday.

The news was shared by the son of Misterio Sr. -- real name Miguel Ángel López Díaz -- on social media. Details surrounding his death were not immediately made available.

Misterio Sr. was one of the top stars in the Mexican wrestling scene, making his debut in January 1976. He famously came stateside for a matchup at WCW Starrcade back in 1990 -- teaming up with Konnan.

Saafir Cause Of Death ... Septic Shock, Colon Infection

California-bred rap veteran Saafir died in November ... and we've learned it was a complication of health issues.

TMZ Hip Hop obtained the death certificate, which states Saafir died from septic shock and enterocolitis -- an infection of the small intestine.

The doc also lists infected sacral decubitus as a COD, a medical term for an enlarged bedsore caused by too much pressure on the bottom of the spine.

'90 Day Fiancé' David Murphey's Cause of Death Revealed

'90 Day Fiancé' star David Murphey passed away last week ... and now we've learned more details about his death.

A Clark County, Nevada spokesperson tells TMZ ... the reality TV star, who was best known for appearing on "90 Day Fiancé: Before the 90 Days," died from heart-related problems -- including cardiac arrhythmia and hypertensive cardiovascular disease.

We're told David also had a history of pulmonary embolism -- which occurs when a blood clot in a lung creates a blockage. Following these findings, David's death has been ruled as a natural one.

Wisconsin School Shooting California Man Detained Allegedly Planned Coordinated Attack

Turns out the Wisconsin teen school shooter may have had a partner in crime -- a California man has been detained for allegedly planning a mass shooting at a government building in a coordinated attack with her.

According to a gun violence restraining order obtained by San Diego's CBS 8, 20-year-old Carlsbad resident Alexander Paffendorf is accused of exchanging messages with Natalie Rupnow about opening fire at a local government building ... while she attacked the Abundant Life Christian School in Madison on Monday.

The emergency restraining order from the Carlsbad Police Department states, "During an FBI interview, Paffendorf admitted to the FBI agents that he told Rupnow that he would arm himself with explosives and a gun and that he would target a government building."

'90 Day Fiancé' Star David Murphey Dead at 66 ... Was Battling Health Problems, Liver Cancer

'90 Day Fiancé' star David Murphey -- who was best known for appearing on "90 Day Fiancé: Before the 90 Days" -- has died ... this according to his family.

The reality star's family issued a statement on his Instagram account Wednesday ... where they confirmed the TV personality died last week in Las Vegas, Nevada after "experiencing health issues over the last several years."

Sources with direct knowledge tell TMZ ... David had been sick with liver cancer, which he was diagnosed with over a year ago. We're told David also had been facing a number of other health issues, too. His cause of death is currently unclear.

Honolulu Plane Disaster Two Dead After Crash ... Smoke Billows Up, Dashcam Video

A horrifying scene unfolded in Hawaii on Tuesday ... as a plane crashed into a building, killing two people onboard.

The tragic incident was captured on dashcam video attached to a vehicle traveling down a highway in Honolulu on Tuesday afternoon while the Kamaka Air Cessna 208 Caravan was conducting a training flight in the skies above.

Check out the footage ... as the car barrels down the roadway, the dashcam captures the aircraft rapidly descending in the distance.

Wisconsin School Shooter First Photos Surface Online ... Show Her At Gun Range

Natalie Rupnow, the 15-year-old girl police identified as the Wisconsin school shooter who killed a student and a teacher in a deadly rampage, looks like she knew how to handle a firearm ... at least according to the first photos to surface of her online.

In one photo, shared on her father's Facebook page, you see Natalie at a gun range ... and she's aiming at a clay pigeon with a shotgun.

Natalie is wearing a shirt featuring the German rock band KMFDM ... which is interesting, because Columbine school shooter Eric Harris was super into the band.

San Francisco Guilty Verdict in Cash App Founder Murder Trial Tech Mogul Stabbed Under Bay Bridge

UPDATE

3:27 PM PT -- Nima Momeni's attorney Bradford Cohen tells TMZ … Momeni will be appealing, and "We believe there is enough error during the trial to afford him a good chance at a retrial."

Cohen asserts the state's attorney had to "overcharge the defendant" due to rampant crime in San Francisco, saying ... "It's disappointing that after seeing a video in which it proved that the state's witness, Bo Mohazzabi, was a liar, and additionally showed what appears to be Bob Lee holding a knife and snorting a substance off of it, that they came back with 2nd-degree murder."

San Francisco jurors found the man accused of killing the founder of Cash App guilty of murder Tuesday ... following a 6-week trial featuring conflicting testimony about drugs and revenge.

Nima Momeni was found guilty of second-degree murder after the jury deliberated for 7 days. The jury reached the verdict Monday night, but it was not read in court until this morning.

The founder of Cash App, 43-year-old Bob Lee, was stabbed to death in April 2023 under the Bay Bridge in San Francisco. He was stabbed 3 times, including through his heart, with a paring knife ... and he managed to call 911 before he died later in a hospital.

Wisconsin School Shooting Terrified Students Recall Nightmare

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"I was Scared"
CNN

Terrified students at the Wisconsin school where 15-year-old Natalie Rupnow opened fire are now speaking out, recalling the fear they felt as the tragic event unfolded.

Check out the video -- one little boy bravely told CNN several people started crying during the chaos at Abundant Life Christian School in Madison, WI, on Monday as they had to wait for the police to arrive ... before being escorted out of the school to the church.

Heartbreakingly, the boy added that he was super scared and just wanted to know why the shooter did what she did.

World's Fattest Cat Crumbs the Cat's Cause of Death ... Died After Losing 7 Pounds

Crumbs, the world's fattest cat, sadly passed away in October ... and now we're learning more details about how the furball died.

The orange tabby suffered from heart disease caused by his obesity -- an autopsy showed he had acute cardiogenic pulmonary edema. That's a life-threatening condition resulting from the build-up of fluid in the lungs due to increased heart pressure, according to multiple news outlets in Russia, where Crumbs lived.

At the time of his death, it was speculated he passed from some complication of excess weight, though tumors were also reportedly found on his spleen and other organs.

Wisconsin School Shooting 15-Year-Old Female Identified As Killer ... Second-Grade Teacher Phoned 911

update

12:05 PM PT -- Madison Police Chief Shon Barnes gave updates to the case this afternoon, and clarified a significant detail about the school shooting.

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ISSUING A CORRECTION
CNN

"Yesterday, after looking at the computer-aided dispatch system, it seems as if a call came from a second-grader -- it actually read, 'The call came from a second-grade teacher.' That was a mistake. That's my responsibility, and I apologize, and I clarify that today. It did not come from a second-grader -- it read 'second-grade teacher.'"

A 15-year-old girl has been identified as the Wisconsin school shooter who killed a student and a teacher and seriously injured several more people.

According to police, Natalie Rupnow died by suicide Monday after going on her terrifying shooting rampage at Abundant Life Christian School in Madison, WI, where she was also a student.

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WHAT WE KNOW

Madison Police Chief Shon Barnes announced at last night's press conference that Rupnow — who went by the name Samantha — was the assailant, which came as a total shock because of her age and gender.

'Northern Exposure' Star Diane Delano Dead At 67 ... After Brief Illness

Diane Delano -- famous for her roles in "Northern Exposure" and "The Wicker Man" -- has died, TMZ has learned.

Diane's rep tells us ... the actress passed away at her home in Los Angeles Friday after a brief illness. An official cause of death was not released.

Diane was best known for playing St. Barbara Semanski on the CBS TV series "Northern Exposure" in the 1990's, as well as Sister Beech in the 2006 film, "The Wicker Man," starring Nicholas Cage.

Dick Van Arsdale Suns Legend Dead At 81

Phoenix Suns legend Dick Van Arsdale -- famously known as the "Original Sun" -- has passed away, the team announced Monday. He was 81 years old.

The Suns shared the heartbreaking news just minutes ago ... saying, "Our thoughts are with his friends and family, including his twin brother and Suns teammate, Tom, during this difficult time."

Van Arsdale was a star for the Indiana Hoosiers from 1962-65 ... earning All-American honors alongside his identical twin, Tom.

Offset $60K Birthday Ring To Remember Takeoff ... 🚀 Travis Scott Approved!!!

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SENTIMENTAL BLING
TMZ.com

Offset getting to see Cardi B last night at his birthday party in Miami wasn't his only surprise of the evening ... the newly certified 33-year-old got a shiny memento of his late Migos bro Takeoff!!!

TMZ Hip Hop obtained footage from the peak of Set's private birthday party during Art Basel at Habibi.

Mazza New York surprised Offset with a jewelry box as he was posted up with Travis Scott, who had just finished his helicopter-boosted Rolling Loud set, where we're hearing he sold more tix than the other two headliners combined!!!