Weapons & Guns

Marilyn Manson was just creating art when he pointed a police-approved fake gun into the crowd at his San Bernardino concert.

Manson defended the stunt, which came almost 2 years after the San Bernardino terror attack ... calling it an "act of theater" about how easy it is to get semi-automatic weapons.

Manson said, "My art has always been a reaction to popular culture and my way to make people think about the horrible things that happen in this world." He claimed to have police approval to use the prop, and added ... "My performance was not meant to be disrespectful or show any insensitivity."

The San Bernardino Sheriff's Dept. tells TMZ it did NOT approve or disapprove of Manson's stunt. However he did give them a heads up he was doing it, which they appreciated ... so deputies at the venue weren't caught off guard.

Dennis Rodman is making a plea to POTUS on the eve of his trip to South Korea -- asking him to make peace with his North Korean bro, Kim Jong-un, as tensions rise over nuclear warfare.

"Donald Trump, please, help us," Rodman said to TMZ Sports in Newport Beach. "You always say, 'unite.' I'm all about that."

Dennis told us he trusts Trump ... but feels like he's gotta be involved for his former "Celebrity Apprentice" boss to break bread with the supreme leader.

Highly doubt the Donald's down ... but at least we know the Worm's still trying to play peacemaker.

Marilyn Manson showed a shocking lack of empathy Sunday night as he pretended to spray the crowd with bullets from a fake semi-automatic weapon ... in a county that is still reeling from a mass shooting.

Marilyn --- in a wheelchair after a September injury that crushed his leg -- was performing at the Glen Helen Amphitheater in San Bernardino ... the city where a terrorist killed 14 people in December 2015.

Perhaps with that in mind -- and a penchant for controversial headlines -- Marilyn pulled out the fake rifle while performing "We Know Where You F****** Live."

A mic is attached to the scope of the rifle.

Disturbing as hell.

Finally, some good news for ex-Seattle Seahawks star Brandon Browner -- officials decided not to move forward with charges in his domestic violence case ... despite allegations he threatened his ex with a gun.

TMZ Sports broke the story ... 33-year-old Browner was arrested back in Sept. after allegedly making criminal threats to a female.

Now, we've obtained official documents laying out the case against Browner -- which show Brandon's ex-GF told police things got scary during a FaceTime conversation.

"He showed her a gun and said he would kill her," the docs say.

But Browner told police she was lying and he never had a gun. Prosecutors couldn't prove the gun threat actually happened ... so they dropped the case.

7:04 PM PT -- According to reports, Devin Patrick Kelley is described as an Air Force vet who was discharged for bad conduct ... and who was once court-martialed for alleged assault of his wife and kid.

Texas officials just held a press conference about the deadliest mass shooting in the state, and revealed that a local resident fired back at the shooter who killed 26 people at a small town church ... and then gave chase before the gunman was found dead.

A rep for the Texas Department of Public Safety gave a blow-by-blow account of what went down Sunday morning in Sutherland Springs, TX where a gunman opened fire at the First Baptist Church.

He says the gunman, ID'd as Devin Kelley, was dressed in all black tactical gear when he opened fire on the church -- using an AR assault-style rifle -- from the outside and then continued inside. When he walked out again, a local resident engaged him with his own rifle, causing the gunman to flee.

The resident followed the gunman in a separate vehicle, and the gunman was later found shot dead around a nearby county line ... where cops say they found more firearms in his car. It's unclear if the gunman suffered a self-inflicted gunshot wound, or if the resident shot and killed him.

As we reported ... the gunman left at least 26 dead, not including himself, as well as at least 20 others injured. The victims' ages range from 5 years old to 72.

Apparently, the resident who fired back at Kelley flagged down a passerby in a truck and instructed him to follow Kelley. The driver of that truck, Johnnie Langendorff, explained to local media he made a snap decision to follow the shooter.

3:41 PM PT -- Texas Governor Greg Abbott confirms that at least 26 people have been killed.

3:11 PM PT -- The shooter has been ID'd as 26-year-old Devin Patrick Kelley of New Braunfels, TX, according to multiple media outlets.

2:21 PM PT -- The pastor of the Texas church, Frank Pomeroy, and his wife say they were out of town during the attack, but confirm their 14-year-old daughter, Annabelle, is among the dead.

1:16 PM PT -- The Wilson County Sheriff now says about 25 people are dead, including the gunman. An official body count has not been released.

12:15 PM PT -- At least 27 people are reportedly dead from the shooting, according to County Commissioner Albert Gamez Jr.

President Trump tweeted that he's monitoring the Texas situation from Japan. He also sent his thoughts and prayers to the people of Sutherland Springs.

A shooter opened fire at a church in Texas Sunday morning, leaving at least 15 people shot and multiple dead ... reportedly including the gunman.

Police and paramedics responded to First Baptist Church of Sutherland Springs, TX around late morning Sunday on word of an active shooter at the premises. Law enforcement sources confirm to TMZ there are multiple deaths.

Early reports say as many as 15 people were shot, if not more ... unclear for now exactly how many might be dead. Neighbors reportedly told local media outlets they thought they might have heard the shooter reload at least once.

Around 50 people usually attend the church, according to reports. Police on the scene reportedly said the gunman had deceased, and there was no longer an active threat.

Dave Bautista is a liberal kind of guy ... who likes his guns.

We got the wrestler-turned-big actor at LAX Saturday where he told our photog he's a big second amendment guy, with limits. He thinks it's insane bump stocks are not illegal.

Charles Manson is now a model prisoner ... because wreaking havoc behind bars is apparently a young man's game.

Sources with the California Department of Corrections tell TMZ ... The soon-to-be 83-year-old murderer hasn't violated prison rules since February 29, 2016 when guards found him in possession of a cell phone. A big no-no.

Prison officials believe Manson's on a 20-month goody two-shoes streak simply because of old age and health complications.

But Manson has not always been a model prisoner ... far from it. TMZ's obtained Manson's rap sheet in prison ... and he's tested patience for decades. There are over 100 infractions that go back to 1972, including ...

October 1972 -- Refused to shave

July 1973 -- Assault on staff

January 1975 -- Spitting and threatening staff

June 1977 -- Striking an officer

July 1978 -- Assault on correctional officer

April 1983 -- Possession of marijuana

July 1985 -- Possession of a hacksaw blade

February 1993 -- Assault and battery on non-prisoner

July 1993 -- Possession of a stabbing instrument

April 1995 -- Trafficking narcotics

Sept. 1995 -- Threatening to kill a police officer

March 1999 -- Battery on an inmate with weapon

December 2003 -- Possession of a deadly weapon

June 2009 -- Possession of a wrist watch

June 2015 -- Refusal to provide urine sample

TMZ Sports has obtained the 911 call made by the Postmates food delivery driver who says MLB player Bruce Maxwell pointed a gun at her ... and she's clearly shaken by the frightening ordeal.

The woman tells the 911 operator she was simply trying to deliver a food order to the Oakland A's catcher, but things got bizarre very quickly ... culminating with a shirtless Bruce sticking a gun in her face.

The woman says she wasn't sure if Bruce had done anything illegal because it was all on his property -- but the operator quickly assures her that pulling out a piece on a delivery person is wrong.

Cops responded to the scene and arrested Bruce for aggravated assault. According to the police report ... Maxwell cussed out officers and was uncooperative during the arrest.

Before this ordeal ... Bruce was known for being the only MLB player to take a knee during the National Anthem this season.

Now, Maxwell's also known for being banned from using Postmates again.

The brother of Vegas shooter Stephen Paddock has employees at an assisted living facility afraid for their safety because of his threatening behavior, including death threats ... according to new legal docs.

Bruce Paddock has been ordered to stay away from the Four Seasons Healthcare & Wellness Center -- the California nursing home he recently visited -- after yelling at the administrator, "don't f*** with me and tell your nurses not to f*** with me because I'm the one that hurts people."

Paddock also allegedly threatened to use a razor on a resident, screaming "hey bitch, I want my f***ing razor back ... when I get my ass over there I'm going to shove that f***er so far up your ass it'll come out of your ear."

According to the docs, the most recent incident occurred on October 30, when Bruce snuck in to the facility late at night and barricaded himself in a room. When an employee confronted him, he screamed, "Get the f*** out of my way or I'm going to kill you."

As we reported ... Paddock was busted for child porn. He was on the run for several years, but got caught after bragging about his brother's Vegas attack.

The brother of Vegas shooter Stephen Paddock bragged about being related to him after the attack ... and that's how he got busted for child porn.

Law enforcement sources tell TMZ ... the day after Stephen Paddock slaughtered 58 people, his brother Bruce bragged to folks at the assisted living facility, where he was staying, that Stephen was his brother.

We're told someone on the staff checked Bruce's file at the facility and, sure enough, Stephen Paddock was listed as Bruce's emergency contact. The staffer called the LAPD, assuming cops would be interested in speaking to Bruce.

Sources say as cops and the FBI started digging for info on Bruce, an active search warrant in a child porn case popped up ... leading to his arrest after cops pinpointed his location.

Oakland A's catcher Bruce Maxwell -- the only MLB player who took a knee last season -- made "anti-police statements" and cussed out officers during his gun arrest ... this according to the police report.

26-year-old Maxwell was arrested for assault with a deadly weapon and disorderly conduct in Scottsdale, AZ on Saturday after allegedly pulling a gun on a food delivery woman.

According to the police report, obtained by TMZ Sports, the woman says she was making a routine delivery from Geno's Pizza and Cheesesteaks in Tempe when Maxwell answered the door and stuck a gun right in her face.

"Lindsay advised me she was staring straight at the barrel of a silver handgun," the reporting officer put in the notes.

When cops confronted Maxwell, he reeked of booze, cussed like crazy and couldn't keep his story straight. However, at one point Maxwell said he had cancelled his food order before it arrived and was not expecting it to be delivered.

Cops say Maxwell admitted he had 2 guns in his apartment and a bunch of ammo -- but insisted he had a concealed carry permit.

As the investigation continued, cops say Maxwell "began making anti-police statements and utilized excessive profanity." When cops decided to arrest him, he initially refused to comply.

One cop had a rifle trained on Maxwell during the incident. Another gave Maxwell instructions while pointing a taser at him. Maxwell ultimately surrendered without any weapons being used.

Maxwell was transported to a nearby jail, where he continued to cuss out police officers -- according to the report.

The man who plowed his rental truck into pedestrians and cyclists in Lower Manhattan left behind handwritten letters pledging allegiance to ISIS.

Sayfullo Saipov, the 29-year-old terror suspect, reportedly left notes written in Arabic along with a picture of the ISIS flag in his Home Depot rental that he used to mow down innocent bystanders ... killing 8.

The notes indicate he pledged loyalty to the group, and were found by investigators after his attack.

Earlier Tuesday, New York Mayor Bill de Blasio described Saipov as a terrorist and a coward.

The man who mowed down pedestrians and cyclists in Lower Manhattan was a terrorist and a coward.

That's how NYC Mayor Bill de Blasio described the suspect, who NYPD apprehended Tuesday at the scene. Hizzoner and NYPD Commissioner James P. O'Neill discussed the horrific event that unfolded on a busy bike path in lower Manhattan.

O'Neill said the suspect, now identified as 29-year-old Sayfullo Saipov, had 2 weapons -- apparently a paintball gun and a pellet gun. He said an officer confronted Saipov and shot him in the abdomen ... he survived and was taken to a hospital.

Eight people were killed -- 6 at the crime scene, and 2 more passed away at a hospital.

The Hollywood Bowl's taken a gigantic proactive step to prevent a psychopath from unleashing a deadly assault similar to the Las Vegas shooter -- by closing and patrolling a park with unobstructed views of the venue from afar.

Law enforcement sources tell TMZ ... the Bowl's new security plan will now extend some approximately 900 feet from the venue at the famous Mulholland Overlook Park ... popular among tourists for its picturesque views of DTLA and, of course, the Bowl.

We're told several agencies -- including LAPD and Park Rangers -- have begun dispatching officers for security on nights the Bowl has scheduled events. The park will also be closed to the public.

The tactics Stephen Paddock's brother used to avoid authorities are being described as "evil smart" ... and have disturbing connections to the Vegas shooting.

Law enforcement sources tell TMZ ... Bruce Paddock has been on the run for more than 2 years prior to his arrest this week for child porn. We're told he changed his appearance and moved often to keep cops off his tail ... and took drastic measures to avoid getting nabbed.

Our sources say Bruce rigged up places he was living with booby traps that included propane tanks tied to doors ... and used cameras to create homemade surveillance systems around his properties.

As you'll recall ... Stephen had cameras set up in his Mandalay Bay hotel room to presumably alert him if someone was coming while he attacked the Vegas crowd from his window.