Weapons & Guns

UFC superstar Daniel Cormier has a strong message for the LGBT community -- you are not alone.

Cormier was out in NYC promoting his fight with Jon Jones at UFC 200 -- when he opened up about the terror attack in Orlando.

"We gotta take care of each other," Cormier said ... "We have to be there to support each other in these situations as Americans, as human beings, as people."

One of Omar Mateen's victims was posting videos to social media at the moment he fought his way into the club and opened fire.

25-year-old Amanda Alvear recorded several Snapchat clips from inside Pulse Nightclub -- most of them are innocent fun with friends.

But in the final video Amanda was recording herself when more than a dozen shots are heard.

Many survivors have said clubgoers initially thought the shots were part of the music DJs were playing -- so they didn't react immediately. You can see in Amanda's video -- obtained by the Daily Mirror -- she was not panicked at first by the gunfire.

Mass murderer Omar Mateen was in a fierce gun battle with cops in and outside Pulse Nightclub before he retreated into a bathroom ... where Orlando's Police Chief ultimately made the call to take him out.

Chief John Mina described Mateen's arrival to the club and the firefight that immediately erupted. He also explained why he made the call to use explosives and an armored vehicle to go in and get Mateen when he was holding hostages.

James Howell -- the 20-year-old Indiana man who was arrested with an arsenal in his car hours before his planned arrival at the West Hollywood Pride parade was arrested less than a year ago for pointing a gun in a threatening manner ... TMZ has learned.

Howell got in an argument with his Indiana neighbor last October when he pulled a gun in anger. He was arrested and charged with pointing a firearm at another, as well as intimidation.

Howell copped a plea -- the firearm charge was dropped, and he pled to intimidation. Howell is currently on one year probation for that crime.

TMZ broke the story ... Howell was arrested in Santa Monica early Sunday morning after a homeowner reported a prowler. Police found an arsenal in his car, including three assault rifles, high capacity magazines, ammunition, and a 5 gallon bucket with chemicals to make a bomb. He told police he had traveled to California to attend the Pride parade.

TMZ also found this video posted by Howell, who clearly seems to have a fondness for firearms.

2:40 PM PT -- Cops have identified the suspect -- 20 year old James Howell from Indiana. Police say they found, "three assault rifles, high capacity magazines, and ammunition." Also, they found a 5 gallon bucket with chemicals capable of forming an improvised explosive device.

Cops also say as of now, there is no connection between James Howell and the shootings in Orlando.

A man with assault rifles was arrested early Sunday after telling cops his destination was the Pride parade later today in West Hollywood ... law enforcement sources tell TMZ.

Our sources say Santa Monica PD responded to a prowler call and found the man nearby the house that was allegedly targeted.

We're told he informed cops he was on his way to meet a friend for the Pride parade 10 miles away in WeHo. At a point cops searched his car and our sources say they found multiple assault rifles with a number of loaded magazines that were stacked and taped together -- a marker for someone looking to fire multiple rounds in rapid succession. Cops reportedly also found explosives and camouflage gear.

We're told the man has been arrested.

Santa Monica PD will not comment.

11:15 AM PT -- There are now reports Omar Mateen called 911 and pledged his allegiance to ISIS before carrying out the deadly shooting. He also mentioned the Boston Marathon bombing.

ISIS is taking credit for the attack, saying, "a soldier of the Islamic State has carried out the attack."

The killer in the Orlando nightclub slaughter is 29-year-old Omar Mateen. TMZ has done a records search and found he held a Florida security officer license and a state firearms license.

He's an American citizen and he has family that are not -- his parents are Afghan. Authorities say he was a terrorist and was targeting gays. They say in addition to terrorism this is a hate crime.

Authorities also believe he is part of the radical Islam movement, although they do not know if it was an organized attack or if he was a lone wolf. Authorities also believe Mateen specifically targeted a gay club.

Mateen's father told NBC News, "This has nothing to do with religion." He says his son became angry after seeing 2 men kissing a few months ago in Miami, and he speculates that could have triggered his decision to kill.

Law enforcement says Mateen was well prepared, with an assault weapon, a handgun and 2 suspicious devices.

The NYPD tells TMZ, Mateen has no association with the department, and that the shirts he was photographed in were unofficial garments that could be purchased at any store.

50 people were murdered and another 53 injured inside Pulse nightclub in Orlando. It's the biggest slaughter at the hands of a gunman in American history.

Take a look at the pic below ... it's a police helmet with a bullet hole. The helmet saved the officer's life, although he suffered facial injuries.

Police descended on Mateen's home to search shortly after the massacre.

The slaughter at an Orlando nightclub Saturday night that ended the lives of 50 people was an act of terrorism ... and the culprit appears, again, to have radical Islamic leanings.

Law enforcement officials say in addition to an assault rifle and a handgun with which 29-year-old Omar Mateen opened fire in Pulse nightclub, he had a "suspicious device." There was another device in his car.

50 people were taken to the hospital. It was so horrific the city ran out of ambulances and the wounded were taken to the hospital in the beds of pickup trucks.

The FBI says it's unclear if this was an organized attack or a lone wolf. The killer, law enforcement says, was well-prepared.

The gunman held hostages for more than 2 hours and a SWAT team was able to get the shot and kill him.

A man was shot by police Friday afternoon outside the baggage claim area at Dallas Love Field Airport ... according to multiple reports.

A witness posted graphic video on Instagram showing an officer with his gun drawn. At least nine shots were fired as a gathering crowd scattered for cover. The suspect was taken to a hospital. His status is unknown.

An official said the incident began as a domestic disturbance when the man attacked a car with a rock. When police arrived, the suspect rushed at the officer prompting the shooting. The FBI is also on the scene.

Story developing ...

"You go ... or they go."

That's how UFC fighter Valentina Shevchenko feels about her trainer's decision to pull his gun and fire at gun-toting thieves last month during an armed robbery in Peru.

Shevchenko joined the guys on the "TMZ Sports" TV show and broke her silence about what was going through her mind when 3 armed men stormed the restaurant where she was having dinner.

As we previously reported, her trainer, Pavel Fedotov, pulled his gun and fired at the robbers, killing 1 -- but was shot in the stomach during the exchange.

Shevchenko says Pavel is still hospitalized-- but hopes he'll be able to travel to Chicago to see her fight Holly Holm at UFC on FOX 20 on July 23.

The Game believes he's dodging real bullets in Chicago now that a judge has granted his request to postpone a court hearing.

According to legal docs, the rapper asked the judge to push a June 16 hearing for his sexual assault lawsuit in Illinois. He cited a massive outbreak of violence over Memorial Day weekend in the city ... where about 70 people were shot and 6 died.

Game thinks it's likely there will be a bunch of revenge shootings, and fears he could be caught in the crossfire. Priscilla Rainey, who filed the suit against Game, didn't oppose his request.

The judge signed off, but hasn't set a new date yet.

TMZ Sports has obtained footage from outside the Aqib Talib shooting incident -- in which you can hear at least 4 gunshots fired.

The murder-suicide at UCLA went down in a professor's office, and the shooter appears to be a student ... TMZ has learned.

Our law enforcement sources say both male victims were found in an office on the 4th floor of Boelter Hall. Based on the evidence and the bodies ... we're told police believe the student shot the professor and then turned the gun on himself.

We're told there is a note, but it's not your typical suicide note -- it does not mention the professor.

Police are trying to confirm the victim is the same professor in whose office the bodies were found.

12:10 PM PST -- Law enforcement just confirmed the incident was a murder-suicide. There are no other victims or suspects.

Someone has opened fire on campus at UCLA ... and police are scrambling to find the suspect or suspects.

The entire campus is on lockdown right now, and firefighters are on scene to treat victims. Law enforcement sources tell TMZ ... 2 people have been killed, both male and in their 40s. We're also told one operating theory is this was a murder-suicide ... but police are still searching the campus as they're getting flooded with reports of other suspects.

The shooting reportedly happened near Boelter Hall -- and our sources say police have snipers in place on campus, and on police choppers, as the search continues for the shooter or shooters.

Police are trying to evacuate anyone outside of classes ... while students in classrooms are barricading themselves and laying on the ground with the lights off.

Ex-NFL lineman Will Smith was reportedly driving with a blood alcohol level 3 times the legal limit when he was shot and killed last month in New Orleans.

The Times-Picayune says Smith's BAC was 0.24 the night he was shot to death ... according to its sources.

Smith was fatally gunned down and his wife, Racquel, was shot in both legs following a road rage argument with Cardell Hayes. The couple had been on their way home from dinner when they got into a fender bender with Hayes, who says he shot Smith in self-defense.

Actor Michael Jace -- a regular on "The Shield" -- was convicted of 2nd degree murder in his wife's death.

A jury in L.A. found him guilty of shooting and killing April Jace in 2014. During the trial, the jury heard a transcript of Michael's interview with police ... where he said he only intended to shoot her in the leg while they were arguing about a divorce.

Michael shot April twice in the leg and once in the back, according to prosecutors ... while their 2 sons were in the house.

As we reported ... April's parents called 911 to report the shooting, saying Jace had called them and confessed.

His sentencing is scheduled for June 10, and he's facing 40 years to life in prison.

The UFC fighter who's scheduled to take on Holly Holm in July miraculously escaped injury in a violent shootout in Peru ... though her trainer was shot while exchanging gunfire with the bad guys.

The woman caught in the crossfire is Valentina Shevchenko -- who was reportedly dining at a restaurant in Lima when three gun-toting men in motorcycle helmets came in to rob the place.