RIP

'Rust' being a western flick, it's fitting authorities in New Mexico are now reportedly saying either pay up or get outta town.

The troubled movie production will begin hunting for locations to shoot, including Southern California, this according a statement from a 'Rust' attorney to Deadline.

As for why the Alec Baldwin western may be bailing from New Mexico ... Deadline reports there are legal issues. The production was fined $136,793 by the New Mexico Occupational Health and Safety Bureau for "willful and serious" workplace violations ... something the production is fighting. There's apparently no way the production could get permits until that issue is resolved.

There were also allegations the production owes others money that is long overdue.

Of course, there's also the tragic, accidental fatal shooting of cinematographer Halyna Hutchins. One insider connected to the production told Deadline, "It's emotionally difficult for the crew and the cast to return to the same place."

Sam Westmoreland, a Mississippi State University football player, has died unexpectedly ... the school announced on Wednesday. He was 18 years old -- and only two days away from his 19th birthday.

No cause of death was revealed.

"My prayers are with Sam's family and friends," MSU president Mark E. Keenum said in a statement, "with his MSU teammates and coaches, and with the Tupelo community during this most difficult time."

Westmoreland joined the school's football team this year after a stellar career at Tupelo H.S. in Miss. The 6-foot-4, 260-pound freshman offensive lineman had yet to play in a game.

Bulldogs head coach Mike Leach described his player as "a beloved son, brother, and teammate, and a tremendous young man with a limitless future." He added that he and his team are "heartbroken" over the passing.

"He will always be remembered and deeply missed by everyone who knew and loved him," Leech said. "Our highest priority is the support of the Westmoreland family and our student-athletes during this troubling time."

Sam -- born in Tulepo, Miss. -- was an offensive tackle and an industrial technology major at MSU.

University officials said they are actively working with authorities -- including the Oktibbeha County Sheriff's Office -- to obtain more details about Sam's tragic passing.

R.I.P.

George Floyd's young daughter, her mother and their legal team are preparing to wage legal war against Kanye West ... announcing they'll sue him for a quarter of a billion dollars after his recent comments on Floyd's death.

Roxie Washington, the mother of Floyd's only daughter Gianna, announced Tuesday she's hired a team of lawyers to go after Ye, his business partners and his associates for harassment, misappropriation, defamation, and infliction of emotional distress. They're seeking $250 million in damages.

The family's attorneys also say they fired off a cease and desist letter, obtained by TMZ, to Kanye over his comments about Floyd's fatal interaction with Minneapolis police.

The letter reads, in part, "Mr. Floyd’s cause of death is well-settled through evidence presented in courts of law during the criminal and civil trials that were the result of his untimely and horrific death. Nevertheless, you have maliciously made statements that are inaccurate and unfounded, causing damage to Mr. Floyd’s estate and his family."

Kanye's taken a ton of heat for comments he made on an episode of "Drink Champs," claiming George died from a fentanyl overdose and pre-existing conditions, instead of Derek Chauvin's knee on his neck.

The Floyd family says Kanye's statements are "blatantly false" and "malicious" ... and they say Gianna is being "retraumatized" by Kanye's comments, which they say are "creating an unsafe and unhealthy environment for her."

In the cease and desist, the family's lawyers demand Kanye remove the interview and all of his similar statements on George from the Internet and keep Floyd's name out of his mouth.

Newly released surveillance footage from a Wyoming supermarket shows the last time Gabby Petito was seen alive ... and her killer boyfriend was right there beside her.

Fox News Digital released the videos Monday, tracking the movements of Gabby and Brian Laundrie as they casually shopped at a Whole Foods Market in Jackson, Wyoming, in the hours leading up to her death on August 27, 2021. The couple had gotten into a heated argument at a Tex-Mex restaurant in town just a short time earlier.

In the footage, Brian and Gabby are seen driving a white Ford Transit van into the parking lot of Whole Foods, getting out and strolling inside the supermarket. There is no hint of any tension between them.

Once inside, the two are seen side by side walking leisurely through the aisles, eyeing various items. Gabby, at one point, grabs some cheese from a display case and shoves it inside a tote bag.

Next, they're seen leaving the market and getting back into their van. For about 20 minutes, they sit inside the van before driving away on Highway 89, which leads to the Bridger-Teton National Forest. Gabby's remains were found there three weeks later.

You might recall ... Gabby was reported missing on Sept. 11, 2021 by her parents after they hadn't heard from her. Her remains were found several days later, and the coroner ruled her death a homicide by manual strangulation.

The next month, police discovered Brian's remains in a swampy park near his home in North Port, Florida. Cops also found Brian's notebook detailing how he killed Gabby. The pair had been on a hiking trip across the country when things turned sour.

Former NFL cornerback Antonio Dennard was shot and killed outside a bar in Reading, Pennsylvania, over the weekend ... TMZ Sports has learned. He was 32.

The Berks County Coroner's Office tells us Dennard was pronounced dead at 3:15 AM on October 16 -- after being transported to Reading Hospital for a gunshot wound.

Dennard's death has been ruled a homicide ... and police are currently investigating.

Dennard spent time in the NFL with the New York Giants, Green Bay Packers, and Jacksonville Jaguars throughout his career.

An autopsy for Dennard is scheduled for Tuesday, October 18.

The Boston Celtics came up with a special way to honor Bill Russell this season ... with the late Hall of Famer getting a tribute on the team's alternate jersey.

The Cs made the announcement on Monday via IG with photos of Jaylen Brown, Jayson Tatum, Al Horford, and Grant Williams rockin' the new gear -- and they're pretty dope.

The jerseys are dark green, black, and gold featuring 11 gold diamonds on the sides ... to symbolize the number of NBA championships Russell had won during his career.

There's also another set of 11 gold diamonds surrounding Russell's No. 6 jersey number on the waistband ... and the new scripted Celtics wordmark was inspired by Slade’s Bar & Grill, a spot that was owned by Russell in the 1960s.

The Celtics also shared a tribute video of the jersey release ... showing throwback highlights of Russell and what he meant not only to the NBA but to the world.

"Paying homage to a true champion," Celtics said in the caption, "and the Gold Standard of what it means to be a Celtic ☘️."

FYI, Russell -- who played center for the C's from 1956 to 1969 -- helped design the city edition unis with the team before he passed this July at the age of 88.

The Celtics will wear the tribute gear 11 times this year -- another homage to his title wins -- and will start with their season opener against the 76ers on Tuesday.

Maria Salud Ramirez Caballero -- the lady who supposedly inspired one the main characters in the movie, "Coco" -- has died.

Her death was confirmed by Roberto Monroy, the Secretary of Tourism for the Mexican state of Michoacan, who said she'd passed away in Santa Fe de la Laguna ... the same town where she was born more than a century ago.

A cause of death wasn't announced, but Monroy remembered her as a "tireless woman and life model."

She's come to be known as "Mama Coco" -- named after the Disney/Pixar character of the same name in the 2017 animated film, which is centered around Mexico's Day of the Dead traditions. Mama Coco was voiced by actress Ana Ofelia Murguia.

While the Mouse House hasn't officially acknowledged Caballero as the source material behind its titular character -- her family claims a team from Pixar visited their area, photographed Caballero extensively and lived with them for a while.

The family asserts a lot of the exact buildings and architecture Pixar/Disney documented while doing research for the movie showed up in the film ... and that "Mama Coco" likeness is uncannily similar to Caballero.

With that said, her family stopped seeking recognition/validation from the company some years ago -- even though she's a local legend.

Caballero was a clay craftswoman who made pots and other items ... which she'd sell to locals. She's survived by 3 children, lots of grandchildren and even more great-grandkids.

She was 109.

Robbie Coltrane, the actor who gained world-renowned fame as Rubeus Hagrid in the 'Harry Potter' film franchise has died ... TMZ has confirmed.

Coltrane was sick for years, and passed away in a hospital near his home in Larbert, Scotland. It's unclear what he was battling.

Not only did Coltrane appear in each 'Harry Potter' film, his acting career started back in the '70s ... and included roles like Dr. Edward 'Fitz' Fitzgerald on the show "Cracker" from 1993-2006 as well as Valentin Zukovsky in "Goldeneye."

Coltrane struggled with osteoarthritis, a disease that destroys your joints, saying in an interview back in 2020 at his worst moments, he was in "constant pain." He also underwent a knee replacement.

Coltrane stood at 6'1", but his Hagrid character was portrayed to be 8'6".

Coltrane was married to Rhona Gemmell from 1999-2003, and they had two children together.

Coltrane was 72.

RIP

Bruce Sutter -- the first MLB pitcher to enter the Hall of Fame without starting a game -- has passed away. He was 69.

The star reliever played for the Chicago Cubs, St. Louis Cardinals and Atlanta Braves over the course of his career ... winning a World Series in 1982.

Sutter was the National League saves leader in five different seasons ... and won the Cy Young in 1979.

MLB commish Rob Manfred released a statement on Sutter's passing ... saying he had an "incredible baseball success story."

"Bruce will be remembered as one of the best pitchers in the histories of two of our most historic franchises," he added. "On behalf of Major League Baseball, I extend my condolences to Bruce’s family, his friends and his fans in Chicago, St. Louis, Atlanta and throughout our game."

Sutter -- a 6-time All-Star -- was the fourth reliever to get voted into Cooperstown in 2006 ... getting the nod on his 13th year of eligibility.

On top of the Baseball Hall, Sutter is also in the Cubs and Cardinals Hall of Fame ... and his #42 is retired in St. Louis.

Corey Phelan -- a minor league baseball player for the Philadelphia Phillies organization -- passed away after battling cancer. He was only 20 years old.

The team announced the sad news Thursday evening ... saying they are devastated over Phelan's death and described how his "positive presence and selflessness influenced everyone around him".

"Corey is and will always be a special person," Phillies director of player development Preston Mattingly said.

"His smile lit up a room and everyone who came in contact with him cherished the interaction. His memory will live on, especially with the Phillies organization."

The New York native -- who signed with the Phillies org. as an undrafted free agent in August 2020 -- found out about the non-Hodgkin's lymphoma in April after he passed out in the shower.

Phelan underwent scans ... and it was determined he had a 9-inch mass in his chest.

The pitcher received chemotherapy treatment at the Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center in New York after the diagnosis ... and went to visit the team when they played the Mets at Citi Field in May.

"That was one of the best nights ever," Phelan said, "getting to be able to talk with the guys in the locker room, Joe Girardi took me on the field, everyone supportive and nice."

"The whole Phillies organization has been nothing but amazing to me and my family."

Phelan -- who appeared in 9 games with an 0.93 ERA and 1.14 WHIP -- made his last Instagram post 2 weeks ago, saying "Can’t wait to get back out there🙏🏻❤️"

XXXTentacion's legacy and image will live on very proudly on his mother's neck ... thanks to a custom pendant that uncannily captures the late rap star's likeness with a boatload of diamonds!!!

Eric the Jeweler tells TMZ Hip Hop ... popular Atlanta restaurant owner Mr. Rugs purchased the pendant for XXX's mom, Cleopatra Bernard, as a token of his love -- they're currently dating.

We're told Cleo had longed for a pendant to keep the "Moonlight" rapper close in spirit ... and her BF made it happen through Mavani Jewelry in NYC.

Eric wouldn't disclose the price but did reveal the piece consists of 200 grams of gold, white diamonds and boasts more than 50 carats of blue sapphires used to recreate XXX's trademarked blue locks!!!

To nail the specifics of XXX's face -- right down to his face tattoos -- Eric used enamel paint to detail the 3D pendant.

The matriarch has been riding for her son all year, helping promote XXX's Hulu-powered film "Look At Me" in March.

The last time we spoke to Cleo, she was confident the film would be a worthy addition to XXX's legacy.

Those closest to Tyler Skaggs had no idea the late pitcher was using pain pills at the time of his tragic death ... saying the details behind his fatal overdose were unbelievable.

Tyler's wife, Carli, and his mother, Debbie Hetman, spoke publicly about Skaggs' passing for the first time this week ... just days after ex-Angels communications staffer Eric Kay was sentenced to 22 years in federal prison for providing the drugs that took the pitcher's life.

"I loved him so much," Carli said while tearing up. "We had a love that was so special."

"That day still haunts me," Debbie added.

27-year-old Skaggs died after choking on his own vomit in 2019 ... and his autopsy showed a combination of oxycodone, fentanyl and alcohol in his system.

When asked about the troubling details surrounding his death ... both Carli and Debbie said they had no idea he had been taking pain medication.

"Yeah, that was the last thought that crossed my mind," Carli said. "It didn't even cross my mind actually."

"Not a clue."

Carli revealed the couple had plans to start a family after Skaggs returned from the team's road trip in Texas ... saying, "He would have made an amazing father. He was so great with kids."

"I wonder sometimes if I'll ever be as happy as I was. I have a lot of healing to do. I have faith that I'll get there. I know I'll never be the same. It's going to be different. But, I believe that I can find happiness again."

The investigation into the death of 16-year-old Kiely Rodni has wrapped, with results concluding she accidentally drowned in her vehicle after it was driven into a lake.

The Nevada Co. Sheriff's Office released Rodni's autopsy report Thursday, which says, "descendent drown in a lake while inside her vehicle." What's more ... the documents, obtained by TMZ, state there was no indication of foul play in Kiely's death.

As for the toxicology results, Rodni had both THC and ethanol in her system -- though the ethanol could have been a process of decomposition.

It was back in August when Kiely first went missing after attending a party up near Lake Tahoe, California. About two weeks later, Kiely's vehicle was found by a team of YouTube divers submerged in 14 feet of water with her body inside.

PnB Rock's girlfriend's world was turned upside down the day he was murdered ... but she says his actions saved her life, putting her under a table and out of harm's way.

Stephanie Sibounheuang posted a lengthy caption on Instagram Thursday, her first time speaking since PnB was gunned down inside a Roscoe's Chicken and Waffles restaurant a month ago.

Steph says, "I am 100% not ok. If I wasn’t spiritual I could kill my self (but then I’ll go to hell and my man not there)." She then reveals PnB pushed her under a table while shots rang out, "I'm not supposed to be here but bc of him. I am."

In her post, Steph also reveals a heartbreaking detail from the tragic day, saying, "My last day with u. I told you "I know you my husband. I know you my soulmate" Even it was for a little bit. At least we got to experience what having a soul mate is… and for that…I am grateful."

As we reported, 3 people have been arrested and charged in connection to PnB's murder.

Cops say Freddie Lee Trone and his 17-year-old son spotted PnB enter the restaurant before the son followed him inside, shooting Pnb during a robbery to get the rapper's jewelry.

Shauntel Trone, the 17-year-old's stepmother was arrested for accessory to murder for the crime.

The parents of a 14-year-old boy who died over 2 years ago after taking a fentanyl-laced pill they say he got from a dealer he found on Snapchat are now taking the social media company to court over his death.

According to docs, obtained by TMZ, Amy and Aaron Neville, plus a handful of other parents who lost their children to a similar fate, are suing Snapchat -- saying it "facilitates the overwhelming majority of lethal fentanyl sales."

The docs say Snap's process for disabling known dangerous accounts on the platform is broken ... saying "Snap provides no reporting mechanism, staffed email address, or even a phone number for users to report underage, dangerous, or violating use of its social media product."

The lawsuit also alleges Snap is specifically designed to attract children and illicit activity, pointing to the features like disappearing messages that make it hard to trace illegal drug transactions that may go down on the app.

Amy's now the VP of Void -- a nonprofit that fights against the spread of illegal drugs like fentanyl -- and her org recently claimed social media companies across the board aren't doing enough to cut off the connection between kids and dealers.

She's said the access to drugs through the app was way too easy ... believing Alexander wouldn't have put himself in a situation that was in person -- but dealing behind a screen made it much simpler.

Snapchat's recently said it's been working to address the issue ... doubling down on efforts to ban drug dealer accounts and blocking search results that involve drug keywords.

The plaintiffs are seeking damages, as well as for stricter action to be taken on the platform to help prevent any more fatalities in the future.

A rep for Snap tells us, "The trafficking of fake prescription pills containing fentanyl is an urgent national crisis. We are devastated that these counterfeit drugs have taken the lives of so many people, and our hearts go out to families who have suffered unimaginable losses. We are committed to bringing every resource to bear to help fight this national crisis, both on Snapchat and across the tech industry overall."

The rep says the company uses, "cutting-edge technology to proactively find and shut down drug dealers’ accounts, and we block search results for drug-related terms, instead redirecting Snapchatters to resources from experts about the dangers of fentanyl."

The family of Willie Spence, the "American Idol" runner-up who died in a Tennessee car accident, doesn't think alcohol played a role -- instead, their alternate theory centers around his weekend activity.

Family sources tell TMZ ... Willie was leaving Tennessee State University's homecoming weekend when the crash happened, and while some have speculated he was driving drunk, his family says the late singer wasn't a drinker, so that doesn't track.

The accident took place during the day, not late at night ... another reason why they think he wasn't fresh out of leaving some big party.

However, we're told it was a long weekend for Willie -- one that might've left him severely fatigued, and the family's fear is he fell asleep at the wheel.

Police have yet to determine an official cause for the accident or his death.

Willie's family tells us he was on his way back to Atlanta to meet with an organization that helps abused and trafficked women ... a partnership he excitedly told his mother about the day before the fatal accident.