Weapons & Guns

"Flex" rapper Rich Homie Quan is fired up these days as he's plotting a comeback to the top spot ... but he realizes things are much different in the game today than they were in 2013 when he got rich rapping.

TMZ Hip Hop spotted RHQ Wednesday in NYC, and gauged his wisdom regarding hip hop's lack of fun ... with the murder of PnB Rock being the latest dark cloud hovering over the culture.

RHQ thinks the genre's gone too soft, but also too hard in some regards, claiming hip hop needs to do away with both "bubblegum" and "shoot 'em up, bang bang" rappers.

He even bigged up Benny The Butcher as the best MC in the Empire State and urged rappers to splurge their money on property as opposed to buying expensive jewelry.

That might be a hard sell considering the messenger is iced out himself ... but RHQ is taking a veteran approach to his career these days.

The Atlanta native recently aligned his Rich Homie Entertainment imprint with industry mavens Troy Carter and Suzy Ryoo's Venice Music for his next album ... "Family & Mula," which comes out in October.

And his latest single "Krazy" features all the energy RHQ fans are accustomed to, but also ups the ante on raising awareness of the gun violence plaguing his hometown.

Tory Lanez doesn't appear to have a worry gene in his DNA -- his trial for allegedly shooting Megan Thee Stallion was supposed to start Wednesday, but there was no concern on his face outside court.

We got him on camera Wednesday, entering and exiting the courthouse, and when we asked about his current mental state, Tory coolly replied he was "chilling."

That level-headed response might've been due to the fact nothing really went down in court. The trial was postponed, yet again, partly because Tory's lawyer is in the middle of another case.

The new trial date will be between November 28 and December 8.

Megan's ex-best friend, Kelsey Harris, was also present at court and is scheduled to testify for the prosecution about what she saw that night. Remember, Kelsey was inside the SUV with Tory and Megan.

An LAPD officer testified in December 2021 that Megan initially reported her injury to be caused by broken glass, before later claiming the injuries in her feet came from Tory shooting her while yelling "dance, bitch dance."

She's explained that, in the moment, she was protecting Tory ... fearing that if she told cops he had a gun -- this was just a few weeks after George Floyd's murder -- the situation could get worse.

Tory's facing one count of assault with a semiautomatic firearm and one count of carrying a concealed, unregistered weapon.

Roscoe's Chicken & Waffles finds itself in a tough spot 24 hours after PnB Rock's murder -- it's a crisis many businesses are facing amid a violent crime wave -- when and how to resume normal operations.

The South L.A. location where the rapper was killed is open for business Tuesday, and these pics from inside show some employees working, clearing empty plates from tables. We're told the restaurant was fully functioning and had been cleaned after Monday's shooting, but understandably, there aren't many customers sitting down to eat.

What's more, we're told employees who were working during the shooting were given the day off.

TMZ broke the story, PnB was eating inside the restaurant with his girlfriend, Steph Sibounheuang, when the suspect entered, targeting the rapper for his jewelry and opening fire.

Prior to the shooting, PnB's girlfriend posted a photo of the couple's meal with their location ... and earlier in the day, PnB posted a video of himself wearing the jewelry.

PnB was rushed to a local hospital, but died from his injuries. There has not yet been an arrest made in the case and cops continue to chase down leads.

Ouncie Allen -- a top 25-ranked pro bull rider -- has been killed after a deadly shooting at a Salt Lake City apartment on Monday ... and police are calling it a domestic violence-related homicide.

He was only 27.

Salt Lake City Police Department said they received a call at 12:06 AM on Monday about a man being shot at an apartment complex located almost 2 miles south of the Utah Jazz's Vivint Arena.

When officers arrived, they found a male outside of the apartment with at least one gunshot wound ... and transported the man to the local hospital.

Sadly, the man passed away and SLCPD later identified the victim as Demetrius Omar Lateef Allen, also known as "Ouncie."

SLCPD said they arrested female suspect LaShawn Denise Bagley ... and charged the 21-year-old with murder and felony discharge of a firearm.

Detectives believe the Houston bull rider came to Salt Lake City for the Utah State Fair and was staying with Bagley during his visit. However, things apparently went bad after he left the fair.

"After attending the fair, Allen and Bagley went to a downtown bar where they got into an argument," SLCPD said.

"Allen went to Bagley’s apartment to get his property when shots were fired."

Allen was currently ranked 24th in the world in pro rodeo bull riding ... and recently won the Tri-State Rodeo event in Fort Madison, Iowa.

He also placed first at the Big Timber Weekly Rodeo in Montana and at the Northwest Montana Fair and Rodeo in August.

Ouncie's cousin, Ezekiel, is also a bull rider and was the Challenger Series Champion in 2017.

Sean Gleason, the CEO of Professional Bull Riders, said they are "shocked and saddened" by the terrible news and called Ouncie a "talented cowboy."

Allen is survived by his 4-year-old daughter.

Cassadee Dunlap's father was shot this week ... this after there was reportedly a mix-up on whose home he was in.

The Netflix star -- who appeared on the second season of "Cheer" -- hasn't publicly addressed the incident, but we've learned the man identified by authorities after Saturday's shooting, Ronald Dunlap, is in fact Cassadee's dad.

According to reports, cops say he's in critical condition after he somehow made his way into someone's apartment in Little Rock, seemingly by mistake, in the middle of the night ... and was shot by the homeowner.

It's unclear how or why this unfolded the way it did, but the person who shot Dunlap told authorities they heard someone banging at their door around 3 AM and then -- thinking there was a stranger in their kitchen -- fired several rounds, striking Dunlap.

Dunlap's brother, David, says he's still in the hospital and fighting for his life.

A neighbor's door was apparently also hit by bullets, but no other injuries have been reported. It does not appear any charges have been filed thus far either.

Rapper PnB Rock was shot while dining with his girlfriend at a Roscoe's Chicken and Waffles restaurant ... and video shows him fighting for his life.

The shooting just happened, with restaurant employees in a panic as the rapper lay on the floor. Law enforcement sources say they got a call to the restaurant at 1:23 in the afternoon for a shooting victim.

The video shows Rock still moving, but it's possible he may have taken a turn for the worse.

We don't yet have any info on the shooter, but we know PnB was there dining with his girlfriend, Steph, who posted a photo of their meal. A source connected to the restaurant tells TMZ ... it appears the shooter targeted PnB, because no one else was shot or assaulted, and there were plenty of people eating inside the restaurant.

Our source adds it appears the shooter took jewelry off PnB and then fled. PnB had previously posted video of himself wearing several diamond/silver chains.

We're told there's surveillance cameras inside the restaurant, so it may help police apprehend the shooter.

Rock is originally from Philly, but calls L.A. home. He released his debut mixtape in June 2014, and in 2015 signed a record deal with Atlantic Records. In 2016, Rolling Stone named PnB on the list of "10 New Artists You Need to Know."

Lil Tjay seems to be doing fine following his near-fatal shooting this summer … just ask 50 Cent, who was all smiles while flicking it up with the “FN” rapper.

Tjay posted a double selfie Monday … referencing both his and 50 Cent’s brushes with death with the caption “MANY MEN" loaded with thinking emojis.

The Trench Kid was hanging out in L.A. while taking in a special performance from his rap O.G.’s Snoop Dogg, Tony Yayo, Flo Rida and O.T. Genasis … who jokingly used 50’s song “I’m Supposed to Die Tonight” as a punchline for Tjay’s good fortune.

Of course, it’s historic knowledge 50 Cent survived being shot 9 times prior to making it big as a rapper … and famously detailed the incident in his song “Many Men” from his diamond-selling debut album, “Get Rich Or Die Trying.”

The song has been a popular remake for rappers in the past … 21 Savage, Polo G and the late Pop Smoke, among others, have their own versions -- and it would be a nice fit for Tjay’s comeback catalog.

Tjay was shot 7 times before bouncing back with the song “Beat The Odds” and revealed he started walking a week after coming out of surgery.

Boosie Badazz's is torn up about a Houston jeweler getting killed shortly after they met -- but he's also pissed there's internet chatter he might be involved in the crime ... something he's angrily denying.

No doubt, Boosie's Labor Day weekend visit to H-Town, ended in a tragedy -- the death of Duke the Jeweler. Police sources tell TMZ Hip Hop the 29-year-old died from multiple gunshot wounds, and was pronounced dead Sunday at 11:46 PM.

According to cops, witnesses said they saw 2 unidentified Black male suspects hop out of a black GMC truck, approach Duke on foot and fire several shots in his direction ... before fleeing the parking lot.

Now, here's where Boosie comes into the story -- on Sunday, he actually met with Duke ... who, as it turns out, unwittingly captured his final moments on Instagram.

During the meeting, Duke showed off some jewelry, stacks of cash and Louis Vuitton bags -- and, according to Boosie, Duke got shot shortly after this.

The rapper was pretty emotional when he posted a video during his flight back home ... and spilled all the details he had about the incident.

Boosie says Duke was walking to his car -- after their meeting -- and, in his opinion, the dudes who jumped Duke were trying to rob the jeweler.

Boosie says it was in the distance, but he definitely heard the gunshots.

His posting only stirred up internet trolls who insinuated Boosie might have some involvement in the fatal shooting -- and that prompted him to curse them out.

There's been another shooting in Uvalde, Texas ... with early reports of at least two people injured and cops looking for multiple suspects.

The Uvalde Police Department posted a message late Thursday afternoon, saying, "Please AVOID the area of the Uvalde Memorial Park. The Uvalde Police Department is currently investigating a shooting with injured victims."

CBS News correspondent, Lilia Luciano, posted a series of photos from the alleged crime scene showing an older model Chevrolet sedan surrounded by police tape and a couple of cop cars.

Luciano reports two injured victims who are being treated at a hospital. She says cops are looking for two possible suspects.

From all counts, it appears to be an isolated incident ... but of course, any gun violence in the Uvalde community is both frightening and extremely sensitive.

Memphis is under siege by a gunman going on a shooting spree across town with at least 5 people hit at the time of this post ... cops are reporting multiple shootings and large parts of the city are going on lockdown.

Police in Memphis says the suspected shooter is 19-year-old Ezekiel Kelly and he's considered armed and dangerous. Cops say he's been changing cars and moving around the city, in a scene that sounds straight out of a video game.

The alleged gunman went live on Facebook, where he claimed to have shot numerous people ... with video showing him going into an auto parts store and aiming a gun at someone and pulling the trigger.

Cops say Kelly is the man in the video and he's wanted for multiple shootings in Memphis earlier Wednesday.

There was previously a shooting at a gas station, and another minutes later just down the road, which cops say left a woman critically injured.

Police are urging residents to remain indoors ... and the University of Memphis is on lockdown after shots were reported in the area.

Shoreline Mafia rapper OhGeesy would love to put last weekend in his rearview, for good, but prosecutors won't let him now -- cops say he was riding dirty after leaving a friend's funeral.

Burbank PD pulled over OhGeesy and 3 other people last Saturday afternoon, claiming their car had expired tags and excessive window tint. Officers say they spotted a bottle of codeine in OhGeesy's pocket as he sat in the backseat ... plus, the car's driver allegedly didn't have a license.

That prompted a search of the vehicle, and according to cops, OhGeesy didn't have a prescription for the codeine. Even worse, officers found a loaded gun in the ride.

TMZ Hip Hop has learned OhGeesy and all 3 of his pals were arrested for possession of a loaded firearm. They were all charged for the gun, because no single person claimed it.

Cops also booked OhGeesy for the un-prescribed codeine. His bail was set at $35K, and he eventually bonded out.

The 28-year-old rapper had attended the funeral of his best friend Dennis "Dile" Mitchell the same day as the traffic stop.

Cali rapper Kamaiyah might be sticking to her guns a little too closely these days -- according to cops the Oakland native was busted at an airport with a loaded gun.

Burbank police sources tell TMZ Hip Hop ... Kamaiyah was catching a flight from Burbank, CA to Oakland on August 31 when TSA agents say they found a loaded .380 semi-automatic pistol inside her purse.

We're told agents also discovered Kamaiyah had a long-standing warrant for her arrest stemming from a pretty infamous 2019 incident -- cops say she fired off a round inside a movie screening room at a Burbank condominium complex.

As for this new airport arrest ... Kamaiyah was booked and held on $70,000 bail, before posting bond.

Her latest album "Divine Timing" dropped off its deluxe edition a couple of weeks ago ... along with nifty trigger-happy cover art with Kamaiyah clutching 2 pistols and showing off the laser beam.

Barton Fitzpatrick was held up at gunpoint this weekend in a scary scene that could've turned deadly ... this according to law enforcement.

Chicago PD sources tell us ... the actor, who's most famous for playing Reg on "The Chi," was the victim of an armed robbery early Sunday morning in Chicago.

We're told Barton was a passenger in a car when someone slid into the back seat out of nowhere ... brandishing a handgun. Our sources say the robber demanded the car, but he ended up bailing on the plan.

Instead, we're told the assailant fled the scene with some of Barton's belongings ... a chain was taken, and possibly other items as well.

Thankfully, no injuries were reported ... but no arrests have been made. Cops are on the hunt.

Olympic sprinter and former Texas A&M star Shavez Hart was tragically shot and killed after allegedly trying to break up a fight outside of a nightclub in the Bahamas on Saturday. He was only 29 years old.

According to the Royal Bahamas Police, the incident happened in Mount Hope, North Abaco (about 120 miles north of Nassau) around 2 AM.

The report states a group of males got into a physical altercation in the parking lot when one male -- who left and returned with a gun -- opened fire, hitting Hart in the chest.

Hart was transported to the Marsh Harbour Clinic where he was pronounced dead ... just days before his 30th birthday.

The Bahamas Olympic Committee released a statement on Shavez's passing ... saying, "The Olympic family is saddened to learn of the sudden passing of Shavez Hart, a proud native of Abaco."

"He was always very humble, yet proud and determined to offer the very best of himself for the sake of country."

Hart was the third fastest Bahamian sprinter of all time in the 100m dash ... and won the silver medal in the 4x400m relay in the 2016 Indoor World Championship.

Before that, Hart was a Texas A&M star ... winning several competitions, including the gold in the 4x400m relay at the 2015 NCAA Indoor Championship and the 100m at the 2015 SEC Outdoor Championship.

"This is so tragic," Aggie track and field head coach Pat Henry said.

"Shavez Hart was of course one of our finest athletes ever, but he was one of the kindest people I have met, and such a soft-spoken man."

RBPF says a suspect has been arrested and the investigation is ongoing.

The Vice President of Argentina came within an inch of her life, but not for lack of trying on the part of a would-be assassin.

Cristina Fernandez de Kirchner was on her way home, surrounded by numerous supporters, but among them was a 35-year-old Brazilian with a loaded gun.

The man pointed the gun at her head and pulled the trigger ... a gun with 5 bullets in the chamber. The gun misfired, avoiding all-but-certain death.

You see Fernandez disoriented during the attempt ... she appears to duck down and attempt to grab something. Her supporters tried to block the gunman as he stood face-to-face with her.

The Veep is safe, but not out of the woods ... she was actually returning home from court, where she's on trial for corruption -- a charge she denies.

The gunman was. arrested. So far, no motive has been disclosed.

New Orleans Saints starting safety Marcus Maye was arrested on Thursday and booked on a charge of aggravated assault with a firearm, TMZ Sports has confirmed.

According to jail records, Maye was booked into Jefferson Parish Correctional Center in Louisiana at 12 AM ... and is still in custody.

The allegations against the 29-year-old are unclear, we're working on it.

Maye just signed a huge contract with the Saints back in March, inking a three-year, $28.5 million deal. He spent the first five seasons of his NFL career with the New York Jets, starting 60 games and recording 6 interceptions.

New Orleans had listed Maye as its starting strong safety in its pre-Week 1 depth chart.

Story developing ...