Weapons & Guns

5:10 PM PDT -- A rep for Stern's family tells TMZ it's extremely upsetting their private tragedy has become public, saying "This unwanted attention has resulted in several false & hurtful speculations that do not truthfully describe the devoted, unselfish, accomplished & proud man Andrew was."
We're told the family chooses to honor his memory by remembering how he lived, not how he died.

Andrew Stern -- who committed suicide Sunday at a firing range -- tried to kill himself at another firing range in April ... days after he filed for divorce from "Deal or No Deal" model Katie Cleary.

The facts are chilling. We've learned Stern left L.A. in mental distress ... and went home to his parents in Ohio. On April 17 -- 8 days after filing for divorce -- Andrew's mom was so alarmed she called 911 and said he was trying to kill himself.

Andrew's mom told the dispatcher he was going to end his life in 1 of 2 ways ... either going into an enclosed garage with the car engine on, or going to a local firing range and shooting himself.

The 911 call begins with Andrew's mom speeding to the firing range, saying she checked the garage and he wasn't there.

By the time the mom arrived, cops were on the scene. Sources tell TMZ ... they were told by employees at the range, Andrew showed up but they turned him away because he seemed unstable.

Andrew left and got on the phone with Katie as he drove back to his parents' home. Cops arrived soon thereafter, determined Andrew was a danger to himself and he was taken to a hospital for mental observation.

And our sources say a month later cops from a different police department in Ohio went to Andrew's home for a wellness check, after a local doctor alerted authorities Andrew was in bad shape.

The husband of "Deal Or No Deal" suitcase model Katie Cleary shot himself to death ... just weeks after she was photographed getting cozy with Leo DiCaprio and Adrian Grenier.

Law enforcement sources tell TMZ ... Andrew Stern shot himself in the head Sunday while he was at a shooting range in the San Fernando Valley.

The 40-year-old businessman was married to Katie ... who was also a contestant on "America's Next Top Model." Katie was photographed in Cannes last month with Leo and the two seemed tight. There are also photos of Katie in Cannes with "Entourage" star Adrian Grenier.

We're told law enforcement interviewed various people after the suicide, including Katie, and they were told -- among other things -- he was suffering significant stress over marital problems.

Our sources say Katie told law enforcement she and Andrew -- who appeared on "Millionaire Matchmaker" before he got together with Cleary -- were in the process of getting divorced.

A source close to Leo tells us Katie and the actor never hooked up and he left the club with his GF Toni Garrn.

In addition to marital problems, law enforcement says Andrew had a history of depression and had financial issues.

Cops were ready for a gunfight when they responded to a shooting at the Schoolboy Q concert ... which is apparent from radio transmissions between dispatch and cops rushing to the scene.

TMZ has obtained audio of the chaotic conversations.  As the dispatcher explains that someone was shot in the head and another in the back ... it's apparent police are bracing for a violent confrontation.

A man with a rifle came out of the bushes and began firing at Q's SUV after a hip hop concert at Red Rocks Amphitheater outside Denver. The rapper -- who was detained (see pic) wasn't hurt.

Two of the victims are still hospitalized ... they're expected to be OK. The shooter has not been caught.

The man arrested for breaking into Sandra Bullock's house earlier this month didn't have just one machine gun ... he had an arsenal.

TMZ broke the story ... Joshua Corbett actually got inside Sandra's house while she was home. Police later found a machine gun at his home. Authorities just announced ... they now have more than 1 machine gun -- they have 7. And police found other weapons as well.

Our law enforcement sources say Corbett was NOT at Bullock's house to burglarize it ... he wanted to see her. Turns out he never did because she locked herself in a room.

"Goodfellas" actor Frank Sivero must still have friends in high places ... because he was sentenced to 90 days in jail on Wednesday -- but served less than a week.

It's a little sketchy what happened ... Sivero told TMZ at the time of his arrest ... he was escorting a lady friend out of an apartment building and when he got to the lobby -- to his surprise -- cops were there waiting for him, found he was in possession of a gun and arrested him.

According to legal docs -- obtained by TMZ -- part of the plea deal is that Sivero is not allowed to use force or violence against anyone, and the docs single out a woman. The docs don't say for sure if it's the same woman he was escorting out of the building.

Sivero -- known for playing pistol-packing mob guys in movies -- served 3 days this week before his release Friday night. He was also credited with 3 days for time served back in March. The probable reason he was released early ... jail overcrowding.

We're told Sivero cannot possess any deadly weapons for the next 36 months ... and he's required to attend AA meeting a week for 26 weeks. He also had to pay $220 in fines.

The man charged with breaking into Sandra Bullock's home Sunday was in possession of a machine gun ... according to law enforcement ... and we're told he wasn't after Sandra's property ... he wanted her.

Joshua Corbett was just charged with felony burglary as well as possession of a machine gun and stalking.

Bullock was in the house when Corbett allegedly broke in, and she locked herself in a room until police arrived. Her son was not at home at the time ... he was with a nanny.

Law enforcement sources tell TMZ ... they are positive Corbett did NOT break into the house to burglarize it ... he was there for Sandra. We're told he didn't want to harm her ... he wanted a face-to-face.

The good looking 'Bonnie and Clyde' couple that allegedly broke into Miley Cyrus' house and nabbed her car and jewelry were packing heat ... TMZ has learned.

Law enforcement sources tell us ... Tylor Scott and Naomi Charles were armed with a handgun when they jumped Miley's fence and made it inside her home.

We're told when the two were arrested last week -- cops seized the firearm ... which appears to have been stolen in another burglary.

We're also told Miley's stolen items were all recovered ... jewelry, purses, and clothes.

The Isla Vista massacre is another example of how people romanticize violence ... this according to Matthew Modine.

Modine -- who starred in violent movies like "Full Metal Jacket" and "The Dark Knight Rises" -- got into a deep conversation with our photog in Venice on Memorial Day ... saying society's obsession with guns and violence goes back way too far to pin the blame on Hollywood.

Gucci Mane won't get out of jail until late 2016 -- according to a plea deal the rapper just struck in exchange for copping to a gun possession charge.

Gucci pleaded guilty Tuesday to possession of a firearm by a convicted felon. The charge carries a maximum sentence of 10 years in jail, but under Gucci's plea deal, he's only expected to face 39 months ... minus 10 months credit for time served.

Gucci will officially be sentenced in July.

Gucci's been locked up in ATL since September after cops arrested him for packing a loaded handgun (as well as marijuana).

Elvis Presley loved guns, but he wasn't in the business of selling them -- so claims the King's estate, and now it's suing a famous firearm manufacturer for using Elvis's image in a giant ad campaign.

Elvis Presley Enterprises filed the suit against Beretta, claiming the gun co. hijacked Elvis's face and good name to hawk its new model 692 shotgun. Elvis impersonators even made an appearance at the Beretta booth at the 2013 SHOT show in Vegas.

According to the lawsuit, while Elvis was an outspoken gun enthusiast, neither he nor his estate ever gave Beretta permission to use his image in ad campaigns.

EPE is suing for damages. It also wants Beretta to stop using Elvis's image from here out.

Beretta had no comment.

A man who got shot at a BET Awards after party claims the club -- as well as Viacom and BET -- made a near fatal mistake with security ... and wants them to pay up for it.

Antwon Black claims in a new lawsuit -- obtained by TMZ -- he attended a party at Compound Nightclub in Atlanta on October 2, 2011 ... the official BET after party.

Black says the club messed up and allowed one of its frequent patrons past security without checking for weapons -- that patron ended up shooting Black in his left leg.

Black is suing the owners of the club, Viacom and BET for failing to keep the club safe.

That party does have a place in hip-hop history -- Diddy allegedly almost came to blows with someone because they were drinking something other than Diddy's Ciroc vodka. T.I. had to take to the mic to calm Diddy down.

"Take it to Da House" rapper Trick Daddy was busted for allegedly having cocaine and a handgun Thursday night ... and the guy's mug shot is on par with Nick Nolte.

Trick Daddy -- real name Maurice Young -- was NOT having a good hair day when cops stopped him outside his Florida home ... and according to docs, officers told the rapper they had a warrant to search his place.

Cops say they found a gram of cocaine in his nightstand and a 9mm gun under his pillow.

He was booked into jail and later bonded out -- after being charged with possession of cocaine, possession of a firearm and ammunition by a convicted felon, and driving with a suspended license.

Now, being honest ... it's a little too thin to top Nolte's mug.

"Love & Hip Hop: Atlanta" star Benzino says he has no idea why his nephew shot him ... even though it's very clear the beef between them is strong.

Benzino called into "TMZ Live" to tell us what he claims led up to Saturday's shooting during his mother's funeral procession -- and his explanation was, as they say ... tricky.

The rapper -- and former owner of The Source magazine -- says 7-8 shots were fired and he was hit twice.

We asked if it had anything to do with money issues around his mom's house -- and Benzino more than hints there's some bad blood.

"Love and Hip Hop: Atlanta" star Benzino was shot Saturday afternoon while driving in his mother's funeral procession and police already arrested a suspect ... law enforcement sources tell TMZ.

We're told Benzino -- former owner of The Source magazine -- was shot after an argument erupted between family members in the funeral procession.

Benzino was hit and he was rushed to the hospital.

Remarkably ... the rest of the family went on with the funeral and the preacher says when they arrived both the limo and the hearse were blood stained -- according to reports.

Benzino is currently in the hospital.

5:20 PM PST -- The district attorney says Benzino was shot by his nephew Gai Scott, adding, "There has been growing family tension" between the two.

The D.A. says Benzino and Gai were in different cars ... but when the two were side-by-side at some point, his nephew allegedly fired shots.

Gai was charged with assault with intent to murder.

Benzino is currently in stable condition and his co-star Stevie J posted a pic on Instagram of the reality star in the hospital to prove it. B's biceps are bandaged ... so it appears that's where he was shot.

Someone who's clearly not a "Versace" fan opened fire on the rap group Migos ... and the whole situation exploded into a rolling shootout in Miami last night.

According to police ... the Migos crew was driving in a van on a highway -- after a club appearance -- when another vehicle pulled up alongside them and started shooting.

There are reports one of the group's bodyguards was shot in the leg and hospitalized, but Migos' manager tells us no one in their van was injured.

He also claims they returned fire at the other vehicle, telling us ... "There was at least 40 rounds being blasted on those n*****."

The manager says their driver drove to the nearest hospital ... thinking someone on board might have been shot -- though somehow they escaped unscathed.

Police confiscated the van from the hospital -- it was was riddled with bullet holes -- and it's being processed as part of the investigation.

If Whitney Houston were alive to see this ... she'd be rollin' --- her sister-in-law just got a restraining order against the man who was like a son to her.

Nick Gordon -- who grew up in Whitney's house and married Whitney's daughter -- has been ordered to stay 200 yards away from Pat Houston -- Whitney's sister-in-law and executor of her estate.

Pat got the order after claiming she feared for her safety after Nick made threatening comments and posted photos of guns.

For his part, Gordon tells TMZ he was served with the order on Monday, but he "doesn't give a f***."