Weapons & Guns

The man accused of carrying out 5 "execution-style" murders in Texas was triggered by his neighbors complaining their baby's sleep was interrupted by his target practice, according to a new report.

San Jacinto County Sheriff Greg Capers told KTRK News that the suspect -- identified as Francisco Oropeza -- was firing his AR-15 style rifle in the yard of his Cleveland, TX, home late Friday night when his neighbors walked up to a fence dividing their properties.

Capers said the neighbors requested that Oropeza stop shooting his weapon because they had a "young baby trying to go to sleep."

But, Oropeza -- who had been drinking -- got annoyed and replied, "I'll do what I want to in my front yard," Capers said.

The situation quickly turned from harassment to a massacre.

Police say Oropeza marched over to his neighbor's house, stepped inside, and unleashed a barrage of bullets with his AR-15-style rifle, killing 3 females and 2 males, including an 8-year-old boy. Oropeza was reportedly caught on a Ring camera entering the home.

Capers added that all the victims were shot from the neck up "almost execution style."

During the shooting, two female victims used their bodies as shields to protect two of their children, who were found unharmed in a bedroom.

Capers acknowledged their heroics, explaining, "In my opinion, they were trying to take care of the babies and keep them babies alive."

Three more kids were discovered without injuries inside the home, but they were drenched in blood and taken to a hospital to be evaluated as a precautionary measure.

A judge issued an arrest warrant for Oropeza, who investigators believe has fled the country. The FBI has joined police in their manhunt to find Oropeza and has recovered the rifle he allegedly wielded in the deadly attack, along with his cell phone and some clothing.

Another mass shooting -- this time in Texas -- has claimed the lives of five people -- including an 8-year-old child -- after a gunman went on a wild rampage using an AR-15 style rifle, according to police.

The execution-style slayings occurred late Friday night in Cleveland, TX, where the suspect -- who apparently was intoxicated on drugs and/or alcohol -- opened fire inside a house with at least ten people inside, cops said.

After the smoke cleared, five people -- ranging in age from 8 to 40 -- were lying dead from their bullet wounds. Police say two female victims draped themselves over two children in a bedroom, saving their lives.

The gunman fled and was still at large of this morning. Police have not disclosed a motive, but said the assailant was armed with the AR-15 style rifle.

San Jacinto County Sheriff deputies responded to the home -- which is about 55 miles from Houston -- after receiving a harassment call. Cops cordoned off the crime scene and told locals to stay away so they could investigate

During their probe, investigators learned that the alleged gunman -- who lived in the area -- would practice shooting in his front yard, where officers found multiple shell casings.

Police described the suspect as a 5-foot-8 Hispanic man with short black hair who was last seen dressed in blue jeans, a black shirt and work boots.

Bam Margera didn't lose his appetite after surrendering to police to face charges for allegedly assaulting his brother ... getting right back to normal life with his girlfriend and her kid.

TMZ obtained these photos of Bam breaking bread with his chick and her 8-year-old daughter Thursday afternoon in West Chester, PA ... only hours after turning himself into cops and a subsequent court appearance.

Folks who were there say Bam hit up a restaurant called Stove & Tap ... with his group chowing down on french fries, plus macaroni and cheese.

We're also told Bam was very respectful to restaurant staff, generally coming off as being very mellow ... and ducking outside a couple times to smoke some cigarettes.

Bam was right back to normal life after being on the run from police for a few days ... as we reported, he had a warrant out for his arrest after allegedly getting into an altercation with his brother, with police claiming Bam threatened to put a bullet in his sibling's head.

Bam's brother, Jesse, also claimed the former "Jackass" star has been using meth, making the allegations on social media ... and the judge ordered Bam to stay away from Jesse and complete a drug and alcohol assessment.

Friday, Bam posted a series of photos on Instagram, claiming he was finished drinking alcohol and saying he'd recently taken a drug test to prove he wasn't on meth. Bam also vowed to get Jesse removed from a home he's allegedly been renting from Bam.

TMZ broke the story ... Bam allegedly called his family while on the run, accusing them of stealing money from him and telling them how much he hated them for putting him in a treatment center.

Alec Baldwin's character in "Rust" appears to meet an extremely morbid fate, caught on the wrong end of a hanging in a series of pics from the newly-resumed set.

Baldwin and co. were in Montana shooting the independent western flick Thursday -- specifically a scene where Baldwin's brought to a noose, and it's put around his head. Baldwin's character also has what appears to be a bullet wound to his stomach.

Some of the movie's plot has been out there for a while -- like how Baldwin's playing an aging outlaw that rescues his grandson from death. Not much else has been released, but obviously these new images could be a major spoiler.

As you know, the hanging comes just weeks after all charges were dropped against Baldwin in the shooting death of "Rust" cinematographer Halyna Hutchins ...  which has now  seemingly put the blame squarely on armorer Hannah Gutierrez-Reed.

Former NFL safety William Moore is admitting to shooting at a woman's car during an altercation at a Georgia park last weekend ... but he claims he was actually the victim in the case.

The ex-Atlanta Falcons defensive back was arrested on Sunday in Lawrenceville ... after a woman told cops he shot at her car following a playground dispute that her 9-year-old niece had with Moore's young daughter.

According to a police report, the woman alleged Moore got so angry over the situation, he opened fire on her ride while her niece and her son were in the back seat. Moore was ultimately taken into custody ... and booked on several charges, including aggravated assault and criminal damage to property.

But, on Friday, Moore's attorney said in a statement to TMZ Sports the former football player only fired his gun because he was concerned the woman was trying to ram her car into his, potentially causing injury to him and his family.

"William took his two young children and his dog to the park to play," Matthew D. Crosby said. "After watching an older and larger female child assault his daughter, he attempted to speak to the lady that was with the girl to address the child’s behavior."

"William parked his car, got out and approached her driver’s side window to talk. She responded by putting her car in reverse and slamming it into William’s car right where his young son was sitting."

Crosby continued, "It was not until she pulled forward and was preparing to crash into his car again that he produced his gun. William was terrified that his children would be seriously hurt or killed if he did not act immediately. So, he shot at her car’s tire and away from the occupants, attempting to disable her vehicle and prevent further deadly threats to his children."

Crosby went on to say that Moore "adamantly denies the charges and looks forward to his day in court to give his side of the story."

Former Pro Bowl defensive back William Moore -- who played seven seasons for the Atlanta Falcons -- was arrested this week ... after he allegedly shot at a car while children were inside it.

According to the Gwinnett County Police Department, officers were called out to Alexander Park in Lawrenceville, Ga. at around 6 PM on Sunday ... following reports of a domestic dispute. Once they arrived, cops say a woman told them an unknown male, later identified as Moore, had shot at her car.

She also, according to police, said an unknown woman slashed her tire with a screwdriver during the incident as well.

The woman, police said, explained to officers that everything had started after her 9-year-old niece got into a tiff on the playground with Moore's young daughter.

According to police documents, the woman told police an angry Moore approached her and told her he was "going to get his niece to come and fight her" over the kids' altercation.

Police in the docs said the woman tried to leave in her car to avoid conflict ... but Moore blocked her in her parking spot with his vehicle. That's when cops say the unknown woman started puncturing her front left tire with a screwdriver.

Cops say the woman told them she tried to leave, but accidentally struck Moore's car ... and that's when she claims Moore shot at her ride while her niece and son were in the back seat.

According to the police report, the bullet struck the woman's driver's side door ... but thankfully, no one was injured.

The incident was apparently caught on video, and in the footage ... it looks like you can see Moore and a woman near the victim's car before a gunshot rings out.

Police said they later stopped a vehicle at the park matching the description of the suspect's car and detained Moore.

According to the Gwinnett County Sheriff's jail records, Moore was booked on two counts of aggravated assault, one count of felony criminal damage to property in the second degree, and one count of felony possession of a firearm or knife during the commission.

He's also being charged with two misdemeanor counts of cruelty to children in the third degree. His bond has been set at $21,700.

Bam Margera is on the run from cops, but he's still contacting family members with disturbing and aggressive phone calls ... blaming them for his struggles.

Sources close to Margera tell us ... Bam's family is clueless as to where he fled since disappearing Sunday. We're told everyone who loves Bam is extremely worried -- he's been a loose cannon lately and they want him to come home so they can help him.

What's more ... our sources say Bam has made random calls to family members -- seemingly intoxicated -- telling them how much he hates all of them for putting him in a Florida treatment center last year. He's also accusing them of selling his home and stealing money. He trusts no one and has threatened to sue them for money he claims they stole from him.

During these phone calls, we're told Bam refuses to disclose his location ... they don't even know if he's still in Pennsylvania. Our sources say cops are interviewing people and trying to determine his whereabouts.

Bam doesn't have a cell phone, and cops have allegedly told the family they aren't working to ping the girlfriend's cell (he's allegedly traveling with her) because the case isn't considered a priority.

TMZ broke the story ... cops were called to a home in Pocopson Township Sunday, April 23 after Bam's brother, Jess, says Bam attacked him, striking him multiple times in the head. Jess says Bam was enraged, allegedly saying, "I'll kill you. I'll put a bullet in your head."

Jess says Bam fled into the woods behind the house after the alleged attack, and cops have not been able to locate him since.

Up-and-coming Los Angeles rapper MoneySign Suede was stabbed to death in a California prison ... cutting his life short as his career was catching steam.

Prison officials for the Correctional Training Facility in Soledad, CA tell TMZ Hip Hop ... they're currently investigating MoneySign's death as a homicide after discovering he was absent from a headcount check Tuesday around 9:55 p.m.

According to our sources, the "Back to the Bag" rapper was found unresponsive in another area of the prison. Prison personnel attempted to administer emergency aid ... but were unsuccessful as he was pronounced dead around 10:00 p.m.

We're told the death has prompted officials to restrict prisoner movement while they conduct their investigation ... with assistance from the Monterey County District Attorney’s Office and the Monterey County Coroner, the latter of whom will determine MoneySign's cause of death.

Nicholas Rosenberg, MoneySign's attorney, told the Los Angeles Times the rapper was stabbed in the neck in the shower and that those who knew him were shocked.

As news of MoneySign's death circulated, his rapper friends Fenix Flexin and Baby Stone Gorillas took to IG to pay emotional tributes.

President Biden was played by Vladimir Putin ... according to the Chairman of the Foreign Affairs Committee, Rep. Michael McCaul, who says the Russian president agreed to send Paul Whelan home with Brittney Griner but changed the deal during the exchange.

Despite reneging on the agreed-upon swap, McCaul says the U.S. went through with the trade, sending back notorious arms dealer Viktor Bout, knowns as "the merchant of death."

"The deal was originally when the arms dealer from Russia was released that it was supposed to be Griner, the athlete, and Paul Whelan," Rep. McCaul revealed this week during an appearance on CNN.

The Congressman from Texas' 10th district continued ... "When they got to the point of the handoff, they call it, the Russians only showed up with one of the hostages, and that was Griner. And unfortunately, the Marine, Paul Whelan, was left behind."

Rep. McCaul believes the Russian president "played" JB's administration.

"Very tricky on Putin's part, and in my view, the Biden administration got played by releasing a very dangerous arms dealer for just one hostage, and not both."

Of course, 53-year-old Whelan, a retired U.S. Marine, has been locked up in Russia since December 2018. Shortly after his arrest, he was convicted on an espionage charge, and sentenced to 16 years in prison. The U.S. has always maintained the charges are BS.

As for the details of the negotiations, McCaul is likely in a position to know about the inner workings of the months-long, high-level discussions ... he chairs the powerful Foreign Affairs Committee. He also previously sat on the House Homeland Security Committee.

Latto's reached the finish line in her airport loaded gun case ... because we're told it's been dismissed, now that she's met all requirements of a year-long program to clear the charges.

According to the L.A. County Superior Court Clerk, the rapper's case was officially dismissed Tuesday -- per her diversion program, Latto completed a gun & safety course, 120 hours of community service, and avoided all firearms to get it done.

Latto's attorney Jamal Tooson tells TMZ ... "I am extremely pleased with the outcome and glad my client can move forward with her flourishing career."

As you'll recall, Latto fans first discovered the ordeal when she rapped about it in Mello Buckzz's track, "Boom Pt. 2" ... saying, "I got locked up in the airport, goddamn forgot the gun."

TMZ Hip Hop broke the story ... she was busted at LAX in May 2021 and charged with carrying a loaded firearm and possession of a concealed weapon. She started her 12-month diversion program in April of last year.

BTW ... Latto filled the details in for fans, saying she had a loaded Glock in her purse while trying to get on a private flight to ATL. She claimed cops only kept her for a few hours before she was able to take off for her concert.

NBA YoungBoy and his team got super creative so the rapper could enjoy his album release with fans while still on house arrest ... but there was one big problem ... YoungBoy didn't hold up his end of the deal.

Elevate Lounge in Los Angeles was packed with friends and fans Thursday night who were all eager to not only hear the rapper's new album, but to also get a live stream video appearance from the man himself.

If you didn't know, YoungBoy's been on house arrest in Utah for a gun possession charge ... so the live stream seemed like a perfect idea.

The plan was for the album to play at midnight and YB to join in once it dropped ... however, that didn't happen, and a source with direct knowledge tells us it's because he fell asleep.

A statement from YB's team refutes that claim, saying, "There was a technical difficulty and they couldn't get NBA YoungBoy on the live stream. They tried Zoom and FaceTime without any success and unfortunately, NBA YoungBoy was unable to connect with his friends and fans."

The first photos of Alec Baldwin on the new "Rust" movie set have trickled out ... and one showed him handling a lever action rifle.

Baldwin was shooting scenes for the film in Pray, Montana, Friday when the images were snapped -- the actor was spotted passing the prop gun, handle first, to another crew member.

Another picture shows the actor wearing old Western garb while standing next to a horse just one day after prosecutors dropped involuntary manslaughter charges against him in the 2021 killing of cinematographer Halyna Hutchins on the first "Rust" set in New Mexico. Director Joel Souza was also wounded in the shooting but survived.

From the beginning, Baldwin maintained that he never pulled the trigger when he shot Hutchins with a revolver while practicing for a scene, claiming the gun had discharged on its own. He also said he was told the gun was not loaded with live ammo.

The Santa Fe D.A. folded like a cheap suit, belatedly conceding the prop gun Baldwin used at the time had a modified trigger that increased the likelihood the firearm could misfire without actually pulling the trigger.

Armorer Hannah Gutierrez-Reed still faces involuntary manslaughter charges. Former "Rust" assistant director David Halls cut a plea deal with prosecutors for his role in Hutchins' death and was sentenced to 6 months probation.

Tory Lanez is still pining for his freedom despite his looming sentence for shooting Megan Thee Stallion -- calling on the D.A. to give him a fair shake this time around.

Tory released a bombshell open letter on Instagram Friday addressed to L.A. County District Attorney George Gascón pleading for the laws and God to work in his favor.

The letter accused Deputy D.A.'s Kathy Ta and Alex Bott of suppressing evidence that could've cleared his name, and painted himself as a martyr for the cause of minority justice worldwide.

Tory and his legal counsel have an upcoming motion hearing for a new trial on May 8 and the Canadian rapper says he owes it to his family, friends and fans to fight for his freedom.

You'll remember, Tory's family caused quite a scene outside the courthouse after he was found guilty in December.

Megan also broke her silence on the case this week ... expressing her wishes to put the trial and Tory in the past for good.

TMZ Hip Hop caught up with DaBaby this week, who was kind of entangled in a love triangle between Tory and Meg ... but told us he's down to record with her again, and also revealed jail has made it difficult to speak to Tory.

Alec Baldwin continues to embarrass Santa Fe New Mexico authorities who charged him with involuntary manslaughter ... because he may have been right all along when he insisted he never pulled the trigger on the gun that killed cinematographer Halyna Hutchins.

The prop gun Baldwin used back in 2021 had been modified, this according to the L.A. Times ... the trigger mechanism had been changed which increased the probability it could have misfired without Baldwin pulling the trigger.

Baldwin insisted he never pulled the trigger, something prosecutors and even the FBI disputed. The D.A. made a big deal of its theory that pulling the trigger was a major component of its case ... a case that has now gone up in flames.

What's unclear ... when did authorities learn of the modification on the gun? And how could it be ... Baldwin was charged before the authorities properly examined the weapon to understand exactly what happened.

The involuntary manslaughter case against Baldwin is being dropped ... less than 2 weeks before the trial is set to begin. The case was widely criticized, in no small part because the D.A. somehow felt an actor was responsible for checking the work of an expert armorer.

Hannah Gutierrez-Reed, the armorer on the set, remains the only person charged with involuntary manslaughter.

Ralph Yarl is alive today thanks, in part, to the actions of 2 neighbors who came to his assistance minutes after Andrew Lester shot the 16-year-old boy twice -- and one of those neighbors is tearfully sharing the traumatic experience.

Jodi Rae joined us Thursday on "TMZ Live," and was almost immediately choked up remembering when Ralph banged on her front door, desperately seeking help. She says she couldn't see out her front door, and was uncertain about what was going on outside.

She had not heard the gunshots, but says it was clear Ralph was in dire need of assistance ... so, she decided to call 911. The operator told her there was an active shooter in the area, and advised Jodi not to open her door.

This definitely created a massive dilemma for Jodi ... one that brought her to tears as she told us about it -- she wanted to make sure her own son remained safe in their home, but also wanted to help Ralph, who she could see through her window falling to his knees.

Jodi says once she saw another neighbor walking outside, she figured the danger must have passed ... and immediately ran to Ralph's side. When she saw pools of blood outside her door, she realized the teen had been shot.

The story gets even more gripping and emotional at this point ... Jodi says she and a male neighbor used a towel to apply pressure to Ralph's head wound, held his hand and talked to him about school ... anything to keep his mind off the pain he was clearly suffering.

She fought through tears to tell us what Ralph told them about getting shot. She says she's had very limited contact with the shooter, Lester, since moving to the Kansas City neighborhood last year.

Jodi says she just kept thinking, "That's somebody's son," and knew she had to do something to help him. Sadly, she says there's been some backlash against her and other neighbors ... people who are, incorrectly, assuming the community did nothing to help Ralph.

While that's clearly not what happened, Jodi says she's mostly concerned with Ralph's recovery. She says, "Nothing compares to what that young man is living through every day."

Mikey Williams -- one of the best high school basketball players in the country -- just pled not guilty to the six felony charges he was hit with in his shooting case.

Troy Owens, the attorney for the San Ysidro H.S. star point guard, entered the pleas for the Univ. of Memphis commit at Williams' arraignment hearing in San Diego on Thursday morning.

During the proceedings, which Williams attended remotely, a judge ordered the basketball player to stay away from the alleged victims in the case. Williams was also ordered to not be in possession of guns or ammunition.

Williams was charged with five counts of assault with a firearm and one count of shooting at an occupied vehicle ... after authorities allege he was involved in an altercation near his home in eastern San Diego on March 27.

Police say someone opened fire on a car that had five people in it -- including three minors -- following an argument at a nearby home. No one was injured.

Williams was arrested on April 13 over his alleged role in it all ... and after he posted bond, Owens said in a statement the hooper "maintains his innocence."

Williams is due back in court for another hearing on the matter in June.

Meanwhile, Williams' future college coach -- Tigers head man Penny Hardaway -- told media members on Wednesday Memphis has not cut ties with the star guard over the arrest.