French Montana Gunfire Erupts in Miami Gardens ... Multiple People Shot

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POLICE ON THE SCENE
TMZ.com
UPDATE

1:29 PM PT -- 1/6 -- A spokesperson for French Montana tells us cameras on scene were actually filming a celebration for French's new mixtape, "Coke Boys 6: Money Heist Edition," not a music video. Thankfully, we've confirmed French was not hit, and everyone who was injured and/or shot is expected to make it.

A French Montana music video turned into a terrifying ordeal when gunshots rang out ... and multiple people have reportedly been hit.

French and his team were in Miami Gardens Thursday filming a video outside The Licking restaurant. At some point, at least one person opened fire, injuring up to 10 people ... according to Miami WSVN 7News.

At this point, it's unclear if French was hit ... but a witness on the scene tells us his security got him out of the area safely and without incident.

We've obtained video of French on the scene before the shooting, and everything seemed to going smoothly. However, in additional video -- from after the shots rang out -- you can see the chaos.

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MOMENTS BEFORE THE SHOOTING
TMZ.com

We do not know who fired the gun or if it was more than one person.

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LAMAR OPENS UP

Miami 7 says at this point, there have been no fatalities reported.

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A LITTLE ADVICE
TMZ.com

We spoke with French earlier in the day Thursday about the loss of his friend Takeoff, and advice he gave Quavo on dealing with the death.

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SCARY SCENE
TMZ.com

Originally Published -- 1/5 9:27 PM PT

Idaho Murder Case Cops Contacted Knife Maker ... Attempting to Tie Kohberger to Murder Weapon

The manufacturer of the knife Idaho murder suspect Bryan Kohberger allegedly used to butcher 4 students says cops reached out to them for info ... but the company has no records tying him to any purchase.

According to the arrest warrant affidavit, cops found a sheath for a KA-BAR knife at the murder house, with Kohberger's DNA on it. KA-BAR sells both to retailers and directly to consumers.

KA-BAR Director of Sales and Marketing Joseph Bradley tells TMZ ... Moscow police and other law enforcement agencies involved in the murder case contacted the company, specifically asking about KA-BAR knives and sheaths.

The company says law enforcement made the first contact after the Nov. 13 quadruple murder and asked KA-BAR to identify the sheath ... and KA-BAR confirmed it was one of theirs.

KA-BAR says they don't have any records of someone using the name Bryan Kohberger to purchase a knife sheath or any other products directly from them.

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HEARING THE CHARGES

We're told the KA-BAR knife that would fit the sheath found at the crime scene is a 7-inch utility knife, which is traditionally used as a tool. The company says it's been making the knife since World War II, and it can be used for hunting and small tasks around a campsite ... like chopping firewood or cutting wire and rope.

Police are still on the hunt for the murder weapon ... visiting stores in the Pullman area that sell KA-BAR knives ... hoping to tie a purchase to Kohberger.

Bryan Kohberger Knife Sheath DNA, Cell Phone Records Link Him to Murders

UPDATE

10:18 AM PT -- Bryan Kohberger just made his first appearance in a Moscow, ID courtroom where the judge ordered him to be held without bail, and he was appointed a public defender.

UPDATE
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HEARING THE CHARGES
UPDATE

The alleged murderer showed zero emotion while in court ... where 11 family members of the murder victims were also present.

Bryan Kohberger's DNA was found on a knife sheath at the scene of the Idaho murders ... and authorities made a match by rooting through trash at his family's house and finding his dad's DNA, which had enough of a match to the DNA taken from the sheath for cops to pin the murders on Bryan.

According to the arrest warrant affidavit just released, authorities had Kohberger in their crosshairs less than 2 weeks after the murders. As we reported, cops were on the hunt for a white Hyundai Elantra. On November 13 -- the date of the murders -- there were several videos showing the white Elantra making 3 passes by the murder house before finally stopping at 4:04 AM.

Multiple surveillance videos show the car leaving the area of the murder house at 4:20 AM at a high rate of speed.

Police initiated a video canvas around the murder scene and it appears the car traveled toward Washington State University, which Kohberger attends -- 10 miles from the murder house.

On November 25, cops released info to law enforcement that they were on the lookout for a white Hyundai Elantra. On November 29, a WSU cop pulled up a hit on Kohberger's vehicle and license plate number. Cops went to his apartment in the middle of the night and observed a white Elantra sitting in the driveway.

Now, what we didn't know -- one of the survivors in the murder house says she saw a man 5'10" or taller, not very muscular but athletically built with bushy eyebrows, wearing black clothing with a mask.

Her description is absolutely chilling ... she says the man walked right past her as she stood in a "frozen shock phase," and then he walked past her and left the house.

She had only looked out of her bedroom because she'd heard a female voice, possibly murder victim Kaylee Goncalves, say something like "there's someone here." She also heard a male voice say, "It's ok, I'm going to help you."

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QUESTIONING BRYAN

Cops got a driver's license picture of Kohberger who had a listed height of 6', 185 lbs and the pic shows he has bushy eyebrows.

Cops say they have WSU cams showing Kohberger's car leaving the campus area at 2:44 AM on Nov. 13. They also have a cell phone number and the records show on the night of the murders, at 2:47 AM the phone left his residence and traveled south through Pullman, Washington. It then stopped reporting, but picked up again at 5:30 AM and showed the phone traveling back to his residence. Cops think he deliberately disabled the phone to conceal his travels.

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BRYAN ARRIVES AT COURT
NewsNation

They also have WSU camera footage of him returning at 5:25 AM.

The cell records also indicate Kohberger returned to the scene of the crime just a few hours later -- between 9:12 AM and 9:21 AM. Worth noting is the fact police were not called to the home until 11:58 AM.

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ESCORTED BY POLICE

BTW ... the cell phone records also show since June 22, he had been near the murder house at least 12 times prior to the murders, and they were typically in the late evening or early morning hours.

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PERFECT MATCH
TMZ.com

And, there's this ... Kohberger applied for an internship with the Pullman PD in Fall 2022.

Originally Published -- 9:04 AM PT

Bryan Kohberger Sister Starred in Horror Flick About Students Hacked Death ... Director Shocked By Connection

UPDATE

8:38 AM PT -- Kevin Boon, the director of the horror movie starring the sister of accused Idaho murderer Bryan Kohberger says she never mentioned her brother during filming ... and he was super surprised to find out the two were related.

UPDATE

Kevin joined us on "TMZ Live" and told us he didn't realize the family connection until he started being contacted by media outlets.

UPDATE
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FREAKY CONNECTION
TMZ.com
UPDATE

The director says the only thing he knew about Bryan's sister's personal life was that Amanda was from Pennsylvania ... which is where Bryan was arrested.

UPDATE

Kevin tells us Bryan's sister was a joy to work with ... and Bryan never came around the movie set, as far as he knows. He says he feels really bad for the Kohberger family, especially Amanda.

Bryan Kohberger is accused of committing a murder that has markings of a horror movie ... a movie in which his own sister starred.

Amanda Kohberger has a single movie credit ... "Two Days Back," shot in 2011. The premise -- a group of students who are viciously stabbed to death with knives and other weapons.

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ART IMITATES LIFE
The Mont Alto Film Project

The group of "environmentally-conscious students" take a hike in the woods. Their mission is to catch people who are illegally foresting.

The murderer befriends the group of students and then begins the massacre.

The director, Kevin Boon, was shocked when he learned of the connection between Amanda and her brother ... "You're f***ing kidding me, her brother is that guy?" Boon told the New York Post. He had kind words for Amanda, saying she was "a lovely woman who was very nice. I liked her a lot."

As you know, Bryan Kohberger is accused of butchering 4 University of Idaho students to death as they slept in their beds.

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LAMAR OPENS UP

Eerie.

Originally Published -- 6:55 AM PT

Bryan Kohberger Pit Stop in Illinois ... During Plane Flight to Idaho

Bryan Kohberger is flying private to Idaho right now to face murder charges -- and it seems like the teeny-tiny plane he's on needed a break mid-flight... ditto for the suspect himself.

TMZ has obtained photos of Kohberger being led in and out of Flightstar Wednesday -- a fixed-base operator at Willard Airport in Champaign, IL ... where he and a handful of armed officers landed at around 11 AM PT while he was being transported across the country.

Check out the pics ... you can see the aircraft Kohberger and the PA law enforcement officials are traveling in -- a 2015 fixed-wing, single-engine Pilatus that seats 11 ... and which we've learned is actually owned and operated by the Pennsylvania State Police.

Eyewitnesses tell us the plane appeared to be getting refueled ... while Kohberger appeared to be taking a whiz inside. During this period, we're told the entire airport was placed on lockdown -- with everyone being evacuated, including employees -- while he was in there.

A few minutes later, our sources tell us Kohberger was led back to the plane ... and they took off without incident.

If you're wondering why this plane needed to refuel on a flight that typically takes around 4 hours ... well, it has to do with the capabilities of this particular aircraft and the length of this journey. The Pilatus can go about 1,700 nautical miles on a single tank.

Going from Pennsylvania to Moscow is about 1,800 nautical miles ... so they were playing it safe.

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LAMAR OPENS UP

In any case, Kohberger's almost there -- as of this post, he's somewhere over South Dakota, so Idaho is just a couple states away. Remember, he agreed to be extradited without putting up a fight ... and now, he'll learn the full scope of the charges and evidence against him.

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SLIPPERY SUSPECT

Kohberger has said he expects to be exonerated.

Bryan Kohberger Video of First Indiana Traffic Stop ... Cop Seems Suspicious

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QUESTIONING BRYAN

Video has now surfaced of Bryan Kohberger's first traffic stop in Indiana, and the officer who pulled him over was asking a lot of questions about a "mass shooting."

Kohberger was behind the wheel with his father in the passenger seat, when a patrol officer from the Hancock County Sheriff's Dept. pulled them over for following too close to another vehicle.

The officer begins asking questions about where they were headed. At one point, Kohberger's dad mentions they were coming from Washington State University. Bryan seems to interrupt and talk over him, as if it's not a subject he wants out there. As you know, the University was only 9 miles from the Idaho quadruple murder scene.

The father then brings up what he calls a "mass shooting" that went down at WSU earlier that day. The officer seems curious and asks several questions about it, and then the conversation turns to where Kohberger and his dad were heading.

The officer didn't connect the fact that Moscow, Idaho police put out an alert they were on the hunt for a white Hyundai Elantra ... the same type of car the Kohbergers were in.

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KOHBERGER PULLED OVER
TMZ.com

TMZ broke the story ... there was a second traffic stop a short time later where an officer from a different agency pulled them over for the same offense and also didn't connect the dots.

In both cases, the officers let Kohberger go with just a warning. He was arrested 2 weeks later in Pennsylvania for the murders of the 4 students.

Dave & Buster's Co-Founder James 'Buster' Corley Dead at 72 In Apparent Suicide

James "Buster" Corley, one of the co-founders of the Dave & Buster's restaurant chain, has died … TMZ has learned.

A rep for D&B confirmed Corleys’s death, telling TMZ he’ll be remembered as "an innovative and creative force" with a "pioneering spirit."

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OUTSIDE JAMES' HOUSE
TMZ.com

Cops say they responded to a Dallas, TX home Monday, James’ birthday, to find a man suffering from an apparent self-inflicted gunshot wound. He was transported to a hospital where he died.

The rep for D&B adds ... "Buster’s passion for hospitality, his demand for excellence, and the deep care he had for his team members were unparalleled. Our hearts go out to his family at this difficult time and while we will miss his wise counsel and his easy laugh, the legacy he and Dave built endures."

James opened the first Dave & Buster's in Dallas way back in 1982, along with his business partner David Corriveau ... with Dave winning a coin toss to have his name first.

Dave & Buster's went on to open more than 140 locations across the country ... combining food with video arcade games.

Cops say they are investigating.

James was 72.

RIP

If you or someone you know is struggling or in crisis, help is available. Call or text 988 or chat 988lifeline.org.

Idaho Murders Suspect Bryan Kohberger Waives Extradition ... Family Attends Hearing

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ESCORTED BY POLICE
UPDATE

1:57 PM PT -- Reps from the PA State Police and The Monroe Co. District Attorney just held a press conference about the details leading up to Kohberger's arrest. They say Bryan's parents were home when he was arrested, and cops served the arrest warrant when it was dark.

UPDATE

Approximately 50 agents were in the area when he was arrested, and force was used to serve the warrant -- breaking multiple windows to obtain access to the home.

UPDATE

12:33 PM PT -- Bryan Kohberger has officially waived extradition.

UPDATE
UPDATE

12:24 PM PT -- Kohberger was just led into the courtroom surrounded by police.

UPDATE

11:55 AM PT -- The video feed from the courthouse hallway is now live ... where attorneys, family members and Bryan himself should all walk through in the coming minutes.

Bryan Kohberger was just seen for the first time since his arrest ... heading into court to face charges he savagely murdered 4 college students -- in a case that has riveted the nation.

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BRYAN ARRIVES AT COURT
NewsNation

The suspected killer is expected to waive extradition Tuesday and will be returned to Moscow, ID -- where he's charged with 4 counts of first-degree murder and one count of burglary. He faces a possible death sentence or life imprisonment, if convicted.

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"A CLOUD WAS LIFTED"
ABC

The victim's families said they'd be present for the hearings ... and Steve Goncalves -- whose daughter Kaylee Goncalves was one of the four slain victims -- told NBC News, "I want him to be sick of seeing us and sick of knowing that these people won't let it go."

Steve also told "GMA" the arrest came as a huge relief to his family -- saying it's like "seeing sunlight after being stuck in a house for a month."

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STAYING CALM
NBC

As for Kohberger, his public defender Jason LaBar told "TODAY" he's acting "very calm" ahead of the hearing ... reiterating the claims Kohberger believes he'll be fully exonerated.

As we reported, Kohberger was arrested Friday by police at his parents' home in Effort, PA, in connection with the murders of Kaylee, Maddie Mogen, Xana Kernodle and Ethan Chapin. The victims, all students at the University of Idaho, were found fatally stabbed in an off-campus house in Moscow, ID, on Nov. 13.

Kohberger, a graduate student in criminology at nearby Washington State University, drove cross country with his father back to Pennsylvania around Christmas.

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JUST THE BEGINNING

Investigators were already hot on Kohberger's trail after tying him to the crimes, in part, using DNA evidence. Cops have not disclosed a motive for the attack, nor have they located the murder weapon, which is believed to be a combat knife.

Kohberger's attorney, Jason LaBar, told TMZ ... his client expects to be "exonerated," suggesting he's innocent of the crimes. LaBar also said Kohberger has not specifically addressed the serious charges against him, meaning he hasn't denied involvement in the slayings or admitted guilt.

His hearing is scheduled to start at 3:30 PM EST ... we'll stream it live.

Originally Published -- 8:11 AM PT

Idaho Murder Suspect Placed On Suicide Watch in Jail ... Didn't Cause Issues While Locked Up, Despite Report

The Idaho murder suspect has been placed on suicide watch while behind bars, but his time behind bars has been uneventful ... despite reports to the contrary.

Garry Haidle -- the warden of Monroe County Jail in Pennsylvania, where Bryan Kohberger has been held since his arrest on Dec. 30 -- says the 28-year-old criminology student was put on suicide watch from day 1 ... but it's not because they thought he'd take his own life.

Haidle says it's actually standard operating procedure for high-security inmates who face serious charges like the ones Kohberger is up against -- four counts of first-degree murder.

With that said, the warden notes that Kohberger's stay with them was "uneventful" ... and wouldn't elaborate further. Still, it sounds like Monroe County is shooting down any notion that Kohberger was acting out.

There've been reports suggesting Kohberger was taunting guards, threatening to cut/urinate on people, exposing himself, and even rapping violent lyrics.

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STAYING CALM
NBC

Former Monroe County inmate Valerie Cipollina told the Daily Mail she was placed in a cell close to Kohberger when he was first brought in. She also claimed Kohberger was saying he didn't care what happened to him.

But, the warden seems to be saying that's not what was happening. If anything, he makes it seem like nothing was out of the ordinary while Kohberger was there -- which jibes with what his defense attorney told us. Jason LaBar says his client has remained even-keeled through all this ... but did say Kohberger thinks he'll ultimately be exonerated.

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BRYAN ARRIVES AT COURT
NewsNation

Kohberger was seen in person for the first time Tuesday, where he was hauled into an extradition hearing in front of a judge. He's expected not to put up a fight against Idaho law enforcement officials to have shipped across state lines to answer for the charges.

Idaho Murder Suspect He Once Tried Breaking Window ... Woman Claims

A woman who says she knew the Idaho quadruple murder suspect as a teen claims she once saw him try to break a window ... and that he'd developed a mean streak as he aged.

Bryan Kohberger allegedly attempted to punch through an "unbreakable" glass window a salesman was showing his neighbor -- this while he was over at their house visiting with their kids ... according to their mother, who tells TMZ she saw this as a sign of aggression.

The woman, who's staying anonymous, says her 2 kids grew up with Kohberger in Effort, PA in the 2010s -- explaining he was mostly quiet up until around 2017, when she claims she saw him change into a bully toward her kids ... although, she says she never saw him get physical with them. Still, she insists there were troubling signs ... especially in this instance.

She tells us Kohberger wasn't able to break the glass, but the fact he attempted to on the spot shocked her. It also aligned with what she says she saw as a dark side starting to emerge in him ... also around the time when she claims she heard he started using heroin.

The woman tells us she and her daughter ran into Kohberger at a wedding some years ago, and that he told them he'd gotten clean. In light of the news about his arrest, however, the woman says she was shocked ... realizing he might not have been who he told her he was.

As you know ... Kohberger was taken into custody Friday in his home state of Pennsylvania. Authorities in Idaho say they believe they have their man, and that he acted alone. He's expected to be extradited this week and to enter a plea on first-degree murder charges.

Much remains to be seen about what sort of evidence the police have, what the motive might've been, or how exactly he might've known the victims. Reports have indicated the cops have matching DNA, and have traced the mysterious Hyundai car to Kohberger as well.

Univ. Of Idaho Murders Suspected Killer More 'Animated' In Class ... After Allegedly Killing 4 Students

The man charged with murdering four Idaho college students seemed to be in good spirits and more "animated" in class after he allegedly did his dirty work, this according to a classmate.

Suspected killer Bryan Kohberger was seeking a PhD in criminology and was enrolled in the graduate program at Washington State University. He had recently graduated from DeSales University in Pennsylvania with a degree in criminal justice.

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BRYAN AT GRADUATION
DeSales University

B.K. Norton told the New York Times that they attended graduate studies with Kohberger at WSU -- and quickly noticed some red flags that weren't obvious earlier in the semester after the brutal slayings came to light.

“[Bryan] seemed more upbeat and willing to carry a conversation,” Norton wrote in an email to the NYT. They added Kohberger had a keen interest in forensic psychology.

They said Kohberger had a quiet, but intense demeanor, which made those around him feel uncomfortable. He also passed certain remarks that made it clear he was anti-LGBTQ.

“He sort of creeped people out because he stared and didn’t talk much, but when he did it was very intelligent and he needed everyone to know he was smart,” Norton said.

Kohberger was arrested Friday in Monroe County, PA, after an FBI SWAT team descended on a house where he was staying.

He was charged in Idaho with four counts of first-degree murder in connection with the November 13th fatal stabbings of Kaylee Gonclaves, Maddie Mogen, Xana Kernodle and Ethan Chapin. All four victims were students at the University of Idaho. Police have not disclosed a motive.

Kohlberger is currently being held without bail in Pennsylvania, pending extradition back to Idaho. An extradition hearing is set for Tuesday.

'Clarence' Creator Skyler Page Arrested For Stealing Nerf Guns From Ross Store

Skyler Page, the creator of the animated series "Clarence," is apparently a big fan of the five-finger discount ... he got arrested for stealing toys from a discount department store.

The Burbank Police Department tells TMZ ... Skyler was arrested and booked for petty theft on Dec. 13, when cops say he went into a Ross, grabbed some merchandise, including Nerf guns, and walked out without paying.

According to the police report, obtained by TMZ, cops say Ross' loss prevention department called police to the store to report the alleged theft ... and after getting a description of the suspect, whom they described as "unhoused." Responding officers searched the area and found Skyler sitting on a nearby wall with a boatload of Nerf guns.

Cops say the officers questioned Skyler about the Nerf guns, and he admitted to taking the toys ... telling cops he didn't have enough money to pay for them.

The Burbank City Attorney has filed one misdemeanor charge of petty theft against Skyler ... and he pled not guilty in court.

We reached out to Skyler's camp ... so far no word back.

UNIVERSITY OF IDAHO MURDERS Police Say 19,000 Tips Led to Arrest Police Chief Indicates Suspect Acted Alone

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JUST THE BEGINNING

Moscow cops say after combing through 19,000 tips and interviewing 300 witnesses, they have their man in the quadruple murders in Idaho.

Police Chief James Fry made it clear ... they are confident 28-year-old Bryan Kohberger is the killer, and he will be extradited from Pennsylvania -- where he was arrested Friday -- to Idaho.

Chief Fry indicated he believes Kohberger acted alone, saying the community is now safe.

The police chief made it clear ... they were holding some of their cards close to the vest in their investigation. The PD came under scrutiny for not revealing any progress, but clearly they were hot on the trail.

As we reported, Moscow PD got an arrest warrant for first-degree murder, after locating Kohberger's white Hyundai Elantra. They also reportedly found his DNA at the murder house. The chief apparently believes the Elantra seized was the same car seen speeding away from the house shortly after the murders.

The police chief said they have not recovered the murder weapon.

The chief prosecutor, Bill Thompson, said there is a probable cause document that lays out the evidence, but for now it's sealed. It should be unsealed fairly soon.

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Cops Search Kohberger's Apt.
Fox News

Kohberger lives and goes to school around 9 miles from Moscow, Idaho.

He's scheduled to appear in court Tuesday and is being held without bond. The prosecutor said they don't know if he'll voluntarily waive extradition or fight it.

The prosecutor is asking the public for tips on Kohberger and his history. Authorities want tips on "anything and everything" related to him.

Kohberger reportedly had a blank stare after his bust ... and he's said to have asked cops if anyone else had been arrested.

As you know, Ethan Chapin, Xana Kernodle, Kaylee Goncalves and Madison Mogen were brutally stabbed to death November 13 in the middle of the night as they slept in their home.

David Ortiz Shooting Gunman Sentenced To 30 Yrs In Prison ... In Dominican Republic

The man accused of putting a bullet in David Ortiz's back during a 2019 assassination attempt was sentenced to 30 years in prison this week ... authorities announced Tuesday.

27-year-old Rolfi Ferreras Cruz, who allegedly shot the former Boston Red Sox star at a bar in the D.R. back in June '19, learned his fate at a hearing on Monday.

Nine others were also ordered to spend time behind bars due to their alleged roles in the shooting -- including 28-year-old Alberto Miguel Rodríguez Mota ... who prosecutors said "paid those who carried out the act."

Mota was sentenced to 20 years in prison.

But, the alleged mastermind behind the attack, Víctor Hugo Gómez Vásquez, was acquitted ... due to insufficient evidence.

061319_david_ortiz_shooter_kal 6/9/19
ALTERNATE VIEW

As we reported, Ortiz was struck by gunfire while he was sitting with friends at the D.R. hotspot ... and was rushed to a nearby hospital.

Officials said his liver and his small and large intestines were damaged by the bullet -- and the former baseball player required multiple surgeries in the ensuing days to fix the issues.

The 47-year-old has since made a full recovery ... returning to his role as an MLB analyst for Fox -- while also making regular appearances at Red Sox games.

Authorities ultimately said they did not believe Big Papi was the intended target of the attack ... instead, revealing they believed a man named Sixto David Fernandez was the man the shooter wanted, allegedly because he'd once ratted out a drug runner to cops.

Cruz had also said from his jail cell following his arrest in 2019 that Ortiz was not his intended target.

TORY LANEZ WE NEED AN APPEAL ASAP!!! Petition Attacks Jury, Jay-Z, 'Fake' Protection of Black Women

Tory Lanez's family and friends are banding together to help him avoid prison time ... and they're going after the jury, the music industry, Jay-Z and even suggesting Tory is a sacrificial lamb to do a solid for African American women.

Soon after Tory was convicted for shooting Meg Thee Stallion, an online petition -- Appeal Tory Lanez Verdict -- surfaced. So far, 19k people have signed on, and it doesn't look like it's slowing down anytime soon.

The petition claims Tory's trial was a "circus of speculation, insufficient evidence, inconsistencies, and drunken memories [that] left us without much moral certainty of any truth."

What's more ... Tory fans are attacking the jury, calling them irresponsible, claiming they rushed their decision and unjustly found Tory guilty on all 3 felony firearm counts.

The petition then lasers in on some wild claims -- "This case is also about branding, marketing, label heads and a music industry that pushes narratives based on who they have personally invested millions into. Could Jay-Z or RocNation be involved??"

And then, it becomes racial ... "Was this case taken because of a political pressure to fake protect black women? African-Americans went along with hashtags that didn't protect anyone & instead caused division between black women and black men."

It will be an uphill climb to win an appeal ... appeals courts generally don't throw out guilty verdicts because they may interpret the facts differently than the jury.

New York Giants Players Inside Mall During Fatal Shooting ... Team Is Safe

Several New York Giants players and the team's announcer were inside the Mall of America Friday night when a 19-year-old man was shot and killed -- forcing the mall into lockdown -- just hours before the team was scheduled to play the Minnesota Vikings on Saturday.

Thankfully, all Giants team personnel are safe.

The Giants are staying across the street from the famous mall ... and a group of players headed over to do some shopping Friday night.

According to Bloomington police, there was an altercation between two groups of men before gunfire erupted around 7:50 PM in Nordstrom. The teenage victim was hit multiple times and did not survive.

Following the shooting, the gigantic mall, busy with last-minute Christmas shoppers, was placed on lockdown.

"Everyone is back in the hotel and accounted for now," Giants PR man Pat Hanlon told the AP.

The identity of the players who were at the mall isn't known. It's also unclear how many Giants were on the premises when the shooting happened.

Bob Papa, longtime Giants radio announcer, was also at MoA Friday night.

Papa tweeted, "Scary here [at Mall of America]. Shooting in mall. On lockdown at #TwinCitiesGrill. Two gunmen at least one victim," before sending out an update about an hour later where Bob reassured his followers he was safely out of the mall.

Police have not yet made any arrests.

The Giants -- coming off a win over the Commanders on SNF -- will now attempt to refocus and beat the 11-3 Vikings ... a game that would all but lockup a playoff birth for Big Blue.