XXXTentacion's Mom Warns His Murderers ... Don't Drop the Soap Behind Bars
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XXXTentacion's killers will spend the rest of their lives behind bars, and as far as the rapper's mother is concerned ... they better sleep with one eye open, as they'll be massive targets.
Michael Boatwright, Trayvon Newsome and Dedrick Williams each received sentences of life without parole Thursday for their roles in the 2018 robbery and shooting death of XXX.
XXX's mom, Cleopatra, tells us she believes the sentence was more than appropriate given her son was murdered at just 20 years old. She says Boatwright taunted her throughout the trial by blowing kisses. She hopes "Buttright (not a typo) will now get the kiss he wants so bad."
She also has a message for Newsome and Williams ... "My hope for these other gentlemen is they will retain a firm grasp on the slippery soap."
It's very clear, Cleopatra believes the men will be targets, and you can't blame her for her anger toward them ... especially given the circumstances surrounding the crime.
TMZ broke the story, XXX was ambushed in his vehicle in broad daylight outside of a South Florida auto shop, shooting him and stealing a Louis Vuitton bag and $50,000 in cash.
XXX's career was on a positive trajectory, and the outpouring of love and support from his fans was huge after his murder.
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Coolio Died from Fentanyl ... Fam Will Honor His Legacy
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Coolio's cause of death has been revealed, and it's one that continues to plague not only the entertainment industry, but the country as a whole ... fentanyl.
Family spokesperson, Jarel (Jarez) Posey tells TMZ ... Coolio's loved ones just got the news from the coroner -- fentanyl killed the rapper -- and he also had traces of heroin and methamphetamines in his system.
Jarez tells us investigators determined Coolio's severe asthma and decades-long use of cigarettes also played a factor in his death and his body's inability to fight back.
Despite the grim news, Jarez tells us Coolio's kids -- Brandi, Jackie, Melan, Christopher, Artis III, Darius and Artisha -- will remember their dad for the great man he was ... and the public should know how much they loved him, and how he conquered the world both on the stage and when he wasn't performing.
We're told Coolio's family has plans to honor their dad through documentaries and film ... and continue the legacy that was his music.
TMZ broke the story ... Coolio was found dead at his friend's house in Los Angeles in September. At the time, Jarez, told us paramedics suspected he suffered a cardiac arrest.
Law enforcement sources told us no drugs or drug paraphernalia were found at the scene.
The world was shaken by the news of Coolio's death -- including his close pal Vanilla Ice, who last performed with the legend just days before his passing.
FYI, Ice got pretty emotional recalling the last time he had a heart-to-heart with the fellow artist ... adding that he even pushed pause on his tour following the rapper's death.
Coolio's family made a headstone so they could have a physical place to go and remember him ... enlisting Cemetery Tim -- who has also done headstones for Nate Dogg, Eazy E and Anthony Johnson -- to make the custom piece.
We covered it all in a previous episode of The TMZ Podcast, available on all podcast platforms!
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XXXTENTACION Killers Get Life Behind Bars
9:27 AM PT -- 5/17 -- Robert Allen was just sentenced to 7 years in Florida State prison with credit for 1,755 days already served ... followed by 20 years of probation.
The 3 men convicted of murdering XXXTentacion just learned their fate ... with the judge sentencing them to life in prison.
The men -- Michael Boatwright, Trayvon Newsome, and Dedrick Williams -- were previously found guilty of murder in the fatal 2018 shooting.
Robert Allen, the fourth man arrested for the murder, pled guilty to second-degree murder ... he has not yet been sentenced
Remember ... XXX was just 20 years old when he was shot and killed in June 2018 at a South Florida motorcycle dealership, in what prosecutors say was a robbery. The killers were accused of shooting the rapper as he sat in his vehicle, then running off with a Louis Vuitton bag and $50,000 in cash.
A Florida jury also convicted the three men of armed robbery ... with the verdict coming down last month, following 8 days of deliberations.
During the trial, prosecutors linked XXXTentacion's killers to the slaying through surveillance video from inside and outside Riva Motorsports, plus cell phone videos the men recorded showing them flashing $100 bills shortly after the shooting.
XXX's death shocked the rap community, and to this day tons of fans still mourn his loss.
Originally Published -- 4/6 11:49 AM PT
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'The Wire' Star Lance Reddick Cause of Death Revealed ... Died from Heart & Artery Disease
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Lance Reddick's cause of death has been revealed as heart disease ... according to the late actor's death certificate.
The document, obtained by TMZ, lists Reddick's immediate cause of death as Ischemic Heart Disease as well as Atherosclerotic Coronary Artery Disease. The death cert also states Reddick was to be cremated.
TMZ broke the story ... Reddick, best known for his role in "The Wire" and the 'John Wick' movie franchise, was found dead at his Studio City home on March 17. At the time, law enforcement sources said his death appeared to be of natural causes.
We know Lance's wife, Stephanie, was the one who dialed 911 after finding him collapsed in the backyard.
Just before he died, Lance was doing a press tour for the "John Wick: Chapter 4" film ... and he even had an appearance scheduled on Kelly Clarkson's show for the week after he passed away.
Lance posted a selfie video just days before his sudden death at home with his pups, raising questions as to why he wasn't attending the 'Wick 4' premiere in New York City.
Lance's castmates honored him by wearing blue ribbons to the movie's premiere in Los Angeles, and Keanu Reeves shared some touching words about his friend.
Outside of 'John Wick,' Lance was also famous for his work in HBO's "The Wire" where he played Baltimore Police Department officer Cedrick Daniels in all 5 seasons of the show.
Throughout his career he racked up a ton of credits including shows like "Fringe," "Bosch," "Oz" and "Lost" ... he also appeared in films such as "Angel Has Fallen" and "Godzilla Vs. Kong."
Lance was 60.
RIP
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Police Fatal Shooting Caught On Body Cam Video ... Teen Cries Out Before Death
Police fatally shot a teenager in a stolen car in Washington D.C. ... and the horrific incident was all caught on video.
Check out the body cam footage, released by the U.S. Park Police and D.C. Metropolitan Police, showing officers entering the vehicle parked on a residential street after they responded to a call of a stolen car.
Dalaneo Martin, 17, was asleep behind the wheel when one of the cops woke him up to try to arrest him.
In his panic, Martin sped away with the officer in the back seat, pointing his gun at the teen.
The cop ordered Martin to stop the car and let him out, but Martin kept driving. Finally, the officer warned, "Stop or I’ll shoot you!" before squeezing the trigger several times.
Martin cried out in agony as he was shot. The car then crashed into a nearby house.
Cops administered first aid to Martin, but they couldn't save him. Martin was pronounced dead at the scene.
The officer who fired the shots and a second cop were treated for non-life-threatening injuries at a hospital.
Both officers were placed on administrative leave pending the outcome of an internal police investigation into the March 18 shooting.
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Cash App Founder's Murder Last Moments Reportedly Caught On Video ... Called 911, Screamed For Help
12:03 PM PT -- Bob Lee's murder was tragic and enraging, so says San Francisco District Supervisor Joel Engardio ... who also tells us the fear of crime in the city is real -- even if the murder stats are down.
Joel joined us on "TMZ Live" Thursday, and he said he's been hearing serious concern from the people in his Sunset district ... and he points out that while the number of murders has decreased, that doesn't mean crime's gone down, too.
He lists off the numerous things people in his city are facing in terms of crime -- and he tells us his thoughts about a new ruling regarding homeless encampments in SF.
Cops Arrest Tech Exec for Murder of Cash App's Bob Lee
Cash App founder Bob Lee's final moments were reportedly caught on video before he collapsed dead from stab wounds on a California street.
Surveillance footage, reviewed by The San Francisco Standard, showed Lee tending to his injuries with one hand while holding his mobile phone with the other hand as he staggered down a desolate city street early Tuesday morning. A trail of blood was left in his wake.
The video also depicted Lee approaching a Toyota Camry with its hazard lights on and raising his shirt to reveal a stab wound to the driver. As Lee asked for help, the motorist sped away.
Moments later, Lee fell to the ground, but he got back up and walked further down the road before collapsing again.
Using his cell phone, Lee called 911 and screamed, "Help! Someone stabbed me!" By the time San Francisco police arrived, Lee was already unconscious and later died at a local hospital.
Cash App Founder Bob Lee Reportedly Murdered In San Francisco Stabbing
Police say Lee was stabbed twice in the chest by an unknown assailant, who fled the scene. A motive has not been disclosed.
Heavy hitters in the tech industry were outraged by the murder. Twitter CEO Elon Musk tweeted at SFDA Brooke Jenkins, asking if she was doing enough to keep repeat violent offenders behind bars.
Very sorry to hear that. Many people I know have been severely assaulted.
— Elon Musk (@elonmusk) April 5, 2023 @elonmusk
Violent crime in SF is horrific and even if attackers are caught, they are often released immediately.
Is the city taking stronger action to incarcerate repeat violent offenders @BrookeJenkinsSF?
Block, Inc. Co-founder Jack Dorsey, whose company owns Cash App, said he was heartbroken over Lee's death.
MobileCoin CEO Joshua Goldbard characterized Lee as a “force of nature" in the tech industry.
Lee was the creator of Cash App - a payment service in which users can transfer funds to each other using their mobile phones. Before his death, he was the chief product officer for MobileCoin -- a cryptocurrency start-up.
Originally Published -- 5:30 AM PT
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Michael K. Williams Drug Dealer Pleads Guilty ... In Overdose Death Case
The man whom prosecutors claim caused Michael K. Williams' death by giving him dirty drugs has pled guilty in a plea deal ... and could see serious prison time.
39-year-old Irvin Cartagena pleaded guilty Wednesday in NYC to one count of conspiring to distribute drugs in connection to the late actor's fatal overdose from 2021. He now faces a mandatory minimum of five years in prison ... and could even see as many as 40.
Cartagena was facing additional charges and potentially life in prison ... but ultimately pled guilty to just one.
Federal prosecutors slammed Cartagena after securing the guilty plea -- as well as others who were arrested -- by saying the sale of fentanyl-laced heroin brazenly happened in broad daylight ... and that Cartagena and co. were preying on victims like Williams in Brooklyn.
U.S. Attorney Damian Williams also claimed that the dealers continued to peddle drugs on the streets without a second thought ... even after Williams died. A second defendant who was also arrested and charged last year reportedly pled guilty too.
As we reported ... Williams' body was found in his home, and his official cause of death ended up being an accidental overdose. His passing came as a shock to Hollywood. The actor was mostly known for his portrayal of Omar Little on "The Wire" -- but his work went well beyond that, and he was acclaimed for his craft. He had publicly battled drug addiction.
Cartagena is scheduled to be sentenced in August.
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Soccer Journalist Grant Wahl Honored In New 'Ted Lasso' Episode ... 4 Months After Death
3:30 PM PT -- The Wahl family was clearly touched by the "Ted Lasso" tribute ... Grant's wife, Celine Gounder went to social media to thank the cast.
"It ain't no use to sit and wonder why, babe... Thank you, @jasonsudeikis, @brendanhunting, @brettgoldstein. This episode means so much to me and my family."
Soccer journalist Grant Wahl was honored with a few touching tributes in the newest episode of "Ted Lasso" -- nearly four months after he died while covering the World Cup in Qatar.
The show, which follows Ted Lasso's fictional journey from American football coach to successful European soccer coach, paid tribute to Wahl by having one of its main characters hold a copy of Grant's book, "The Beckham Experiment."
In the scene, Coach Beard -- played by star actor Brendan Hunt -- carries the Wahl-penned literature in the palm of his hand ... making sure its perfectly placed so cameras can see its full title.
Wahl's name was also included in the show's closing credits.
An incredibly well done tribute to Grant Wahl, #TedLasso. pic.twitter.com/9SM5ZMCDXN
— Kelsey Price (@KPkelsey) April 5, 2023 @KPkelsey
As you may know, Wahl and Jason Sudeikis, who plays Lasso in the show, were close friends, with each holding a connection to the Kansas City area. In fact, Sudeikis actually appeared on Wahl's podcast with Hunt before his death.
Wahl had also written a blog in October 2022 just before his passing, detailing a trip to Richmond, England -- which, of course, is the home to the show's fictional AFC Richmond squad.
Wahl said in his blog that Hunt had brought him to The Prince's Head -- the real-life bar in the show -- where they shared a beer outside.
As we reported, Wahl died in December after suffering a medical emergency inside a press box at the World Cup. His wife, Dr. Celine Gounder, later revealed a ruptured aortic aneurysm was what killed him.
He was just 49 years old.
Originally Published -- 10:28 AM PT
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Cash App Founder Bob Lee Reportedly Stabbed To Death
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Bob Lee, the founder of Cash App, has reportedly been murdered in a stabbing in San Francisco.
Cops Arrest Tech Exec for Murder of Cash App's Bob Lee
The 43-year-old founder was involved in the fatal stabbing early Tuesday morning, according to NBC Bay Area -- sources say he was rushed to a hospital after the attack but succumbed to his injuries.
No arrests have been made yet, and San Francisco PD has yet to reveal any details about the alleged suspect.
Lee was currently the CPO of the crypto company MobileCoin ... and he was the CTO of the mobile payment app Square in the past -- even working at Google in his early days.
Joshua Goldbard, CEO of MobileCoin, shared his love for Lee ... telling ABC7, "Bob was a force of nature. Helped to birth Android and CashApp into our world. Moby was his dream: a privacy protecting wallet for the 21st Century. I will miss him every day."
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Kentucky H.S. Football Player Dies From Brain Injury ... After Hitting Head In Scrimmage
Andrew Dodson -- a high school football player in Kentucky -- has tragically died ... after he suffered a head injury during a routine tackle in an intrasquad scrimmage last week.
The boy's father, Alan Dodson, told the Lexington Herald-Leader his son was running the ball in the Pulaski County varsity football spring Maroon and White game on Friday ... when his teammate tackled him and he landed on his head.
Alan said there was nothing illegal or violent about the hit ... but because of the way Andrew fell, he suffered a serious brain injury.
"He had a major surgery to relieve the pressure and has never awakened," said Alan, who added that his son was wearing a helmet during the collision. "He has been fighting for his life on total life support."
The Kentucky High School Athletic Association confirmed on Monday the boy had passed away due to the injury.
"Today, we all mourn with his family, friends, teammates, and the entire KHSAA family, the loss of this young man," the KHSAA said in a Facebook post.
"No words can explain, justify or rationalize tragedies such as these. We only ask for peace and comfort to all around him."
Andrew was reportedly in his junior season ... playing both tight end and defensive end.
Univ. of Kentucky football head coach Mark Stoops expressed sorrow over Andrew's passing ... writing in a tweet on Monday, "We are heartbroken by this tragedy and are deeply sorry for your loss."
RIP.
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Daz Dillinger I Punk'd Suge Knight Into Paying Me $2.5 Million!!!
Daz Dillinger is offering up yet another Suge Knight horror story from Death Row Records' '90s era, but Tha Dogg Pound rapper happens to be the boogeyman in this tale ... claiming he once strong armed the bulky CEO straight outta $2.5 million!!!
Tha Dogg Pound, and the late Nate Dogg, contributed to the 1996 "Sunset Park" film soundtrack via the song "Just Doggin'" and Daz recalled during an interview with Home Grown Radio the payment still hadn't hit his bank account a year later.
With Tupac Shakur dead and the label's future in jeopardy, Daz says he needed to get what was owed and ran up in the Death Row Records office with Kurupt and Lil Malik Hershey Loc and "hemmed everyone" up until Suge arrived.
Daz says Suge knew he meant business once he saw the determination in his eyes ... and quickly wrote him the $2.5 million check for "Just Doggin.'" We're sure the screwdriver he admits to being armed with also played a significant role in persuasion!!!
Snoop Dogg recently acquired the rights to Death Row and released the catalog onto streaming services, so Daz's royalties should be secure.
Suge's also working on his biopic -- TBD if Daz's recollection of events will make the cut.
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M*A*S*H's Nurse Able Dead At 84
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Judy Farrell, best known for playing Nurse Able in the hit TV show, "M*A*S*H," has died, TMZ has learned.
Judy's son, Michael, tells us she passed away in a hospital on Sunday after suffering a stroke nine days earlier. We're told while she was in the hospital, Judy was consciously alert and able to squeeze the hands of her loved ones, but couldn't speak due to the stroke.
In her role as Nurse Able, Judy appeared in 8 episodes of "M*A*S*H," also starring Alan Alda as Captain Benjamin "Hawkeye" Pierce. Her first husband, Mike Farrell, landed the part of Captain B.J. Hunnicutt in the '70s-'80s sitcom.
Judy also made several guest appearances in TV classics such as "Get Smart," "The Partridge Family," and "Quincy, M.E." She also had roles in the films "J.W. Coop" (1971), "Chapter Two" (1979), and "Long-Term Relationship" (2006).
After divorcing her first husband in 1983, Judy married Joe Bratcher two years later. She is survived by Bratcher and her two children, Michael and Erin.
Judy was 84.
RIP
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Aaron Carter Home Where He Died Up For Sale
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Aaron Carter's estate is trying to sell his L.A. County home, and TMZ has learned one important note for potential buyers ... the bathroom where the singer died is undergoing renovations.
Listing agent Christie M. Limpus of Berkshire Hathaway HomeServices tells TMZ … Aaron's 4,131 square foot house in Lancaster, CA is back on the market, this time for just under $850K.
Aaron listed the home last year, about 1 month before his death, for $779,900 ... and it was put back up for sale last week.
The money made on the house will go to Aaron's estate, and into a trust for his 1-year-old son, Prince.
The 7-bedroom, 4-bath house will come with a full remodel of the bathroom where the late singer's housekeeper found him dead last November. We're told the place is still being shown during the renovations.
Christie says 5 prospective buyers have already toured the house since it came back on the market, and she believes it'll go into escrow very soon for the asking price.
TMZ broke the story ... Aaron bought the house back in 2019 for $430K -- sharing his excitement online about owning the place. He clearly had some work done on it since then, adding a few extra bedrooms and a far bigger pool out back.
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Raquel Welch Cause of Death Revealed ... Cardiac Arrest, Alzheimer's
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Raquel Welch suffered a cardiac arrest ... according to her death certificate.
The document, obtained by TMZ, also says one of the underlying causes of her death was Alzheimer's disease. The actress had not publicly revealed she was battling Alzheimer's.
We broke the story ... Raquel died Feb. 15 at her home in Los Angeles after what her family described as a "brief illness." The death certificate says she passed away at 2:25 AM, and she's since been cremated.
According to the National Institutes of Health, 90% of people who suffer cardiac arrest outside of a hospital die, typically within minutes.
82-year-old Raquel's long and successful Hollywood career is noted on the certificate ... the doc says she spent 60 years as an actress in the entertainment industry.
Remember ... Raquel became an international sex symbol way back in 1966 after back-to-back starring roles in "One Million Years B.C." and "Fantastic Voyage."
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Virgin Voyages Cruise Woman Falls to Death From Balcony Lands on Another Passenger
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A nightmare scene on a Virgin Voyages Cruise, as a woman has fallen to her death on one of the ship's decks ... while also landing on another passenger.
A rep for the cruise, which took off Sunday and was scheduled to travel from Miami to Roatan, Honduras, tells us, "Yesterday evening shortly after departure there was a medical emergency involving one of our passengers."
They continue, "This passenger went over their balcony and onto a lower deck, and despite receiving immediate medical attention, has passed away. We are deeply saddened by this loss of life and our hearts and thoughts are with this person’s loved ones."
To make things worse, the woman who fell also landed on another passenger in the process ... luckily, we're told that person is doing OK.
We obtained photos from the ship showing medical equipment set up on the deck of the ship where the woman landed.
The rep for the cruise tells us the ship turned back to Miami after the incident, and cruise reps are working with local officials to determine what led to the woman's fall.
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Bushwhacker Butch WWE Legend Dead At 78
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Wrestling legend Bushwhacker Butch has passed away after a brief illness, his longtime tag team partner Luke announced on Monday. He was 78 years old.
Butch -- real name Bob Miller -- was hospitalized in the ICU on Friday after arriving in Los Angeles for WrestleMania ... which was a result of a "situation with medication," Luke said in an interview over the weekend.
"He flew in from New Zealand on Wednesday, was all good. Friday morning, he was incognito."
Butch started wrestling in New Zealand in 1964 ... and made his way to the States shortly after. Alongside Luke, the Bushwhackers blew up once they signed with the World Wrestling Federation in the late '80s.
Butch was an absolute legend for decades ... and was inducted into the WWE Hall of Fame in 2015 as a member of the Bushwhackers.
Luke released an emotional tribute to Butch just minutes ago ... saying, "Late last night, I lost my friend, brother and tag team partner of over 50 years with the passing of Bob 'Butch' Miller."
"From the early-1970s when we were young mates wrestling for John da Silva in New Zealand, my first impression of Bob 'The Chest' Miller (as he was called in those days) was that he was a first-class redneck, and what bloody redneck he was! But he was also an all-around good guy and a great friend."
"If you were to read the story of my life it would say that I am only child, but it would be wrong," Luke added. "In life I had a brother and his name was Bob Miller. I love you, Bob. Until I see you again, WOOOOAHH YEEEEAAHH!"
A GoFundMe page was set up to help with Butch's medical expenses ... and the funds will now be used to pay for a funeral service.
Miller is survived by his wife, Helen, daughters, Sharon and Kirsten, and his grandchildren.
For more, tune into the TMZ Sports Podcast available on all podcast platforms!