RIP

5:52 PM PT -- Tyler Perry has broken his silence over the death of Steve Mensch ... expressing his deep admiration and respect for his friend ... while noting how hard this time of year is for him with devastating losses.

"This time of year, grief meets me like an unwanted visitor, as tomorrow marks 15 years since the loss of my mother. It feels especially harder because I have lost so many friends and mentors this year, ranging in age from as young as 40 to 92. And today, yet another loss.

I’ve been trying to understand this tragedy all day—what went wrong with that plane. Steve loved flying, and he loved that plane; he took so much pride in it. I’m praying for his family as we all try to make sense of this heartbreak.

Life is but a moment; we are like vapors. Hold strong to the people you love AND TELL THEM!"

9:03 AM PT -- Tyler Perry Studios Studios has released an official statement on Steve Mensch's death.

“Steve was a cherished member of our team for more than 8 years, and well beloved in the community of Atlanta. It is hard to imagine not seeing him smiling throughout the halls. We will miss him dearly. Our heart goes out to his family as we all send them our prayers.”

Steve Mensch, the president and manager of general operations at Tyler Perry Studios, was killed in a single-seater plane crash in Florida on Friday night, a source close to the studios told TMZ.

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.

Daniel Penny -- the man who choked Jordan Neely to death on a NYC subway -- has avoided a conviction so far this week after a jury of his peers could not come to a unanimous decision Friday in his trial ... and prosecutors decided to drop the top charge in the case as a result.

The prosecution moved to dismiss the second-degree manslaughter charge after the jury twice told the judge today they could not come to a unanimous verdict.

The judge agreed to drop the charge ... and the jury will reconvene Monday to consider the lesser charge in the case -- criminally negligent homicide. If convicted, he could face up to 4 years in state prison.

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.

Chuck Norris is in mourning ... because his mom, Wilma, is dead.

The "Walker, Texas Ranger" star just announced his mom's death ... saying she died Wednesday morning and "went home to be with Jesus."

Chuck is remembering his mother as "a woman of unwavering faith, a beacon of light in our lives" ... and he says "her love reflected God's grace."

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 suspect who killed United Healthcare CEO Brian Thompson may have disappeared into Central Park after the shooting Wednesday morning in a premeditated attempt to evade cameras ... TMZ has learned.

Law enforcement sources tell us ... The suspect rode an e-bike on Center Drive into Central Park after the shooting seemingly with the knowledge the multi-block blackout area would provide cover as he disposed of evidence.

We're told there are no surveillance cameras INSIDE the park, but there are some at the entrances and exits of the famous Manhattan oasis. This may surprise many people in a city known for its multitude of cameras on streets and businesses everywhere.

Following the execution of United Healthcare CEO Brian Thompson by a gunman in NYC, the insurance company and several competitors have scrubbed online bios of their execs.

UnitedHealthcare’s "About Us" page used to display the resumes of its senior leadership, including Thompson's, but now users are redirected to a generic tab solely covering background info about the corporation.

Other health insurers have followed suit ... Anthem Blue Cross Blue Shield's 25 plus executive profiles have been wiped from its "About Us" page.

Kabir "Kabeezy" Singh, a comedian famous for appearing on "America's Got Talent," is dead ... TMZ has learned.

Law enforcement sources tell TMZ ... Kabir died Wednesday and authorities are waiting on toxicology results to determine a cause of death.

We're told he had a history of health issues and at this point, investigators believe he may have died from natural causes, though the investigation is still ongoing.

Police say the suspect who killed UnitedHealthcare CEO Brian Thompson can't hide forever in NYC ... 'cause security cameras recorded a person believed to be the shooter riding away from the murder scene.

Check out the new video, obtained by ABC News, showing a person -- who cops say is the suspect -- riding down a Manhattan street just minutes after Thompson was shot to death early Wednesday outside a hotel.

It appears the rider's wearing a mask, riding down the street very quickly ... but, cops say this is the person they're looking for -- blending in with the rest of the concrete jungle.

The gunman who fatally shot UnitedHealthcare CEO Brian Thompson on the bustling streets of NYC carved a suspected message into the shell casings of the bullets he used to execute the executive -- and it might offer a clue into why he did it, TMZ has learned.

Law enforcement sources tell us ... three 9MM shell casings cops recovered from the scene outside the Hilton Hotel in Midtown Manhattan had the words “deny,” “depose” and “defend” scrawled on them.

Our sources say two of the words appear in the title of a 2010 book, "Delay, Deny, Defend," which slams the health insurance sector -- and, as we now know, Thompson was one of the industry's bigwigs.

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.

A man’s stepping forward with a jaw-dropping claim -- he says he may have figured out the whereabouts of the assassin who shot UnitedHealthcare CEO Brian Thompson ... all thanks to Citi Bike's tracking data.

A data scientist named Riley, who goes by @rtwlz on X, dropped a bombshell post, revealing how he's been scraping Citi Bike data every minute ... and he could see exactly where individual bikes go.

And here's the kicker -- he says the only northbound Citi Bike to leave within 10 minutes of the shooting near the Hilton hotel where Thompson was entering, left at 6:44 AM and headed straight to a location at Madison Ave & 82nd St at 6:52 AM.

The family of late TikToker Jiare Schneider is facing harassment as they mourn the Internet personality ... from fraudsters making threats about Jiare's well-being, despite his recent passing.

The TikToker's sister, Jasnique Woods, tells TMZ ... before and after the confirmation of Jiare's death, the family received a number of threats from swindlers -- who claim they're holding JS hostage, demanding a ransom for his release.

Remember, Jiare was missing for 10 days before he was found dead last week in Georgia after an extensive search. His family posted missing-person flyers in an attempt to get information on his disappearance ... which is how crooks got ahold of Jasnique's phone number.

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.