Florida Man Shoots Through His Windshield In Road Rage/Self Defense

092920_orlando_shooting_kal_v2 SEPTEMBER 2020
HIGHWAY HEAT
Endless Open Road / YouTube

Florida man is back -- and this time, he's shooting through his own windshield at another, apparently armed, driver ... all while zipping along the highway.

Marco Mazzetta posted his own dashcam footage showing him and a buddy driving in Orange County, FL, when they encounter an aggressive Nissan 370z driver who pissed off Mazzetta so much he opened fire.

No, he didn't take aim outside his driver-side window, like in the movies ... instead dude literally unloaded through his windshield, and you gotta see how that played out. Shards of glass flying everywhere ... as his poor friend in the passenger seat freaked out.

As for why he fired -- Mazzetta claims the 370z driver was tailgating him hard, so he brake checked him, causing the other driver to bump him from behind, which you see in the video. Eventually, the Nissan speeds around Mazzetta's truck -- and in zoomed-in footage, Mazetta claims you can see the other driver brandishing a gun.

He says that's why he pulled his piece from his waistband and fired a few rounds. It's wild ... but is it justified???

Mazzetta says he was defending himself, claiming that he feared for his life and his friend's when he saw the other driver's gun. It's unclear if the Nissan got hit at all, but Mazzetta says he pulled off the freeway immediately and reported the incident himself.

It doesn't appear anyone's been arrested for this quite yet -- but Orange County Sheriff’s Office says they are investigating the incident.

Breonna Taylor Case Ex-Cop Hankison Pleads Not Guilty To Wanton Endangerment

Brett Hankison -- the lone Louisville cop charged in connection with the Breonna Taylor case -- has just entered his plea in court ... not guilty.

Hankison appeared by audio conference call Monday to enter his plea during his arraignment for wanton endangerment. Remember, the grand jury did not indict him for shooting and killing Breonna ... the charges are for shooting into her neighbor's apartment.

The now-fired officer -- indicted on 3 counts of wanton endangerment in the first degree -- was later booked and released from the Shelby County Detention Center after paying $15k bail. Wanton endangerment carries a maximum penalty of 5 years if convicted.

As part of his bond conditions ... Hankison must surrender his weapons. His lawyer argued for him to keep them for self-defense since he's an ex-cop who lives outside the city and claimed he has gotten threats ... but the judge denied the request.

Kentucky Attorney General Daniel Cameron said Hankison fired 10 rounds from outside, which went everywhere ... including into the neighboring unit.

Remember ... Cameron said after the officers received no response at the door on the night of the raid, they entered. Sgt. Jonathan Mattingly was the first one in, and apparently saw Breonna and her boyfriend, Kenneth Walker, standing at the end of the hall. He claims Walker was in a shooting stance with a gun in hand, and that he fired at Mattingly first, who was struck in the thigh.

Cameron says Mattingly returned fire -- shooting six times -- while another officer behind him, Myles Cosgrove, also returned fire ... unloading 16 rounds. Cameron stressed there wasn't conclusive evidence that any of Hankison's bullets hit Breonna -- it was only Mattingly and Cosgrove's ammo, and because of that, he couldn't look into any criminality around her death. He says Mattingly and Cosgrove were authorized and justified in their use of force, under Kentucky law.

Ben Crump, a member of Breonna's family's legal team, said the fact Hankison was charged for wanton endangerment of OTHER people besides Breonna is "outrageous and offensive."

Kyle Rittenhouse Appears in Court for Homicide Case

Kyle Rittenhouse -- the 17-year-old armed civilian arrested in the killing of 2 people during the Kenosha protests following the shooting of Jacob Blake -- might be heading back to Wisconsin to face homicide charges.

Rittenhouse appeared for an extradition hearing Friday in his home state of Illinois, where a judge was expected to decide whether to send him to Kenosha to let the case play out there. However, the judge says that decision will wait until the next heading on Oct. 9.

The judge did approve lawyers bringing laptops into the jail where Rittenhouse is being held to show him video. The teenager from Antioch, IL is accused of killing 2 people and wounding a third on August 25. He's been charged with first-degree intentional homicide and first-degree reckless homicide. If convicted, he's looking at a mandatory life sentence.

As we reported ... Rittenhouse traveled the roughly 21 miles from Antioch to Kenosha -- armed with a semi-automatic rifle -- to walk the streets with other armed vigilantes, claiming to be there to quell rioters.

Video showed Rittenhouse running on the street with his gun while witnesses told cops he shot someone. After falling to the ground and appearing to be accosted by others, cops say he opened fire ... killing one person and injuring another. He then appeared to walk toward police with his hands up, and was permitted to simply keep walking and leave. He wasn't arrested until the next day.

Rittenhouse's legal team is presenting his case not only as self-defense ... but with a campaign depicting him as a courageous patriot exercising his right to bear arms and protect a community.

Tory Lanez Denies Megan Thee Stallion Shooting ... On New Album

Tory Lanez finally broke his silence about allegedly shooting Megan Thee Stallion, but only in song -- he dropped a new record that includes a full denial.

The rapper released a 17-track album Thursday night called "DayStar," and nearly every song seems to be about the altercation with Megan back in July when they were out partying with Kylie Jenner in the Hollywood Hills.

Megan has accused him of shooting her, but Tory's basically calling her a liar on his opening track, "Money Over Fallouts." The lyrics include, "How the f*** you get shot in your foot, don’t hit no bones or tendons?"

He continues ... "How the f*** your team is trying to pay me in some whole millions? / 
I just lost like 10 million dollars because this cold business
 / But I got like 10 million followers that’s gon' roll with me / 
Fans that support me because they know my heart."

Along with poking holes in Megan's account of what went down between them on July 12, he suggests she's been influenced to lie about him. On other tracks, he hints that he hopes to speak with Megan again and even reconcile ... but also that he's moved on with a new GF.

Tory's new album also addresses rumors Kylie was the reason he and Meg were fighting that night -- a theory Megan's firmly denied. Still, Tory raps, "Me and Kylie still off in the pool / We was chilling, kicking s**t was cool / Both of us didn’t know you was tripping / Even though I got a crush on Kylie, I woulda left with you if I knew you was dipping, for the simple reason / You invited me, but I can’t act like shawty didn’t excite me."

Earlier Thursday, Tory apologized to his fans for his silence and implied he'd be opening up about things at 9 PM PT -- when his album dropped. Many thought he'd own up to shooting her and apologize. He went in the other direction.

After weeks of speculation and uncertainty about what went down back in July before police swarmed Megan and Tory's SUV and she walked out with bloody feet ... Meg flat-out accused Tory of shooting her in an August 20 video, stating she was tired of the lies from his side.

082020_meg_thee_stallion_kal_full 8/20/20
YOU KNOW WHAT YOU DID

Megan said the 2 of them -- along with her friend and Tory's driver -- were all arguing in the vehicle after leaving Kylie's house in the Hills after 4 AM, and she tried to get out and walk home. That's when she alleges Tory started shooting at her out the window, hitting her feet.

071520_lanez_stallion_arrest_kal_vF JULY 2020
SURROUNDED BY POLICE
TMZ.com

As we've reported ... Tory was arrested for possession of a concealed weapon -- a handgun was under his seat -- and Megan was taken to a hospital and treated for a "gunshot injury."

Though Tory's finally broken his silence publicly on the incident, TMZ previously learned he'd texted Megan an apology about 15 hours afterward, saying ... "I know u prolly never gone talk to me again, but I genuinely want u to know I'm sorry from the bottom of my heart."

He didn't admit to shooting her, but added as his only explanation for his actions ... "I was just too drunk."

Civil Rights Attorney Ben Crump Cops in Breonna's Case Let Her Die ... Should Be Manslaughter

092420_ben_crump_kal
THE FIX WAS IN
TMZ.com

Breonna Taylor's family attorney Ben Crump wants the grand jury transcript released to see if prosecutors tried to make a case for charging the cops with involuntary manslaughter ... or simply let them off the hook.

The civil rights attorney joined us on "TMZ Live" Thursday and tore into Kentucky AG Daniel Cameron, and got heated about something the 3 officers did NOT do the night they raided Breonna's home and shot her.

Police reportedly failed to give Breonna medical aid for at least 20 minutes after riddling her body with bullets -- and Ben explained why, under the law, that amounts to involuntary manslaughter. The question he has is whether Cameron even presented that potential charge to the grand jury.

092320_ag_daniel_cameron_kal 9/23/20
THE BLOW-BY-BLOW
WDRB

For now, Crump says there's only one way to know, and he's calling for public pressure on Cameron's office to release the grand jury transcript ... something Cameron said Wednesday he would not do.

Crump also has an issue with the witness who claimed to hear police announce themselves before entering Breonna's home and gunning her down. Watch the clip, and it should be clear why he, and others, feel it's crucial to know what Cameron said to the grand jury.

Bottom line for Crump ... the wanton endangerment charge against Brett Hankison for shooting into Breonna's white neighbor's house instead of a murder charge underscores what he sees as different justice systems for Black and white Americans.

Homeless Man Shot and Killed by O.C. Sheriffs ... After Violent Confrontation

092420_oc_police_shooting_kal_v4
DEADLY FORCE

Two Orange County Sheriff's Deputies got into a physical confrontation with a homeless man who allegedly went after one of the deputies' guns. The homeless man was shot and killed, and it was all caught on video.

The incident went down Wednesday afternoon in San Clemente, in front of the Hotel Miramar. Cops were called after witnesses said they saw the homeless man walking in the middle of the street into oncoming traffic. Witnesses said cars honked and swerved to avoid hitting him.

According to the Orange County Sheriff's Department, when deputies from the homeless outreach team arrived, they got into a tense, physical confrontation with the man. As you see in the video ... the man appears to push the deputies. A physical encounter ensues and you can hear a deputy say, "He's got my gun" -- suddenly, 2 shots are fired.

The deputies performed CPR on the man, who died at the scene. The Sheriff's Department says surveillance video clearly shows the man trying to grab a deputy's gun.

The Dept. is investigating.

Breonna Taylor Grand Jury Results ... Only ONE Cop Charged, Wanton Endangerment

092320_ag_daniel_cameron_kal 9/23/20
the blow-by-blow
WDRB
UPDATE

3:15 PM PT -- Hankison has been booked and reportedly already released from the Shelby Co. Detention Center after paying his $15k bail.

UPDATE

The grand jury has indicted just one officer, Brett Hankison, on charges of wanton endangerment. Hankison was not charged for the shooting of Breonna Taylor ... he was charged with shooting into a neighboring apartment. The other 2 officers who fired shots the night Breonna Taylor was killed were not charged. In other words, no one was charged for killing Breonna.

092320_breonnna_taylor_announcement_kal
CHARGES FILED
WDRB

Hankison has been indicted on three counts of wanton endangerment in the first degree -- for firing recklessly and without due regard for life. His bail has been set at $15,000. Wanton endangerment carries a maximum penalty of 5 years if convicted.

The indictment has already sparked anger. Rev. Al Sharpton called it "grossly insufficient."

AG Daniel Cameron called Breonna's death a "gut-wrenching" tragedy but said his job is to follow the law. He said for civil rights violations, the federal government can charge officers who cross the line. But, civil rights lawyer Lee Merritt told us on "TMZ Live" a few minutes ago ... he believes the fix was in between Cameron and Trump, and Trump is not going to tolerate federal charges.

092320_lee_merritt_kal
THIS IS NOT ENOUGH
TMZ.com

Merritt noted the medical examiner ruled Breonna's death a homicide, yet that seemed lost on the grand jury. Merritt mentioned an old legal joke -- that grand juries would indict a ham sandwich -- meaning prosecutors have an easy time securing criminal charges. The question ... did the AG press for a homicide indictment? We don't know, because the proceedings are secret.

A few key takeaways from Cameron's comments -- he says the 3 officers who executed the warrant had no prior knowledge of how it was obtained or the background of the case up 'til then. Cameron says they were brought in as extra personnel, and were briefed with basics. He also makes clear ... it was NOT a no-knock warrant, as has been widely reported.

Cameron assured the public -- the officers claimed they did knock and announce themselves, and says that was backed up by a civilian witness who was in one of the neighboring apartments. A journalist asked Cameron if one witness coming forward to say they heard the police announcing themselves was enough when no other neighbors could confirm it.

Cameron skirted that question and said it was clearly enough for the grand jury. There's more ... he goes on to say that after officers received no response at the door, they entered. Sgt. Jonathan Mattingly was the first one in, and apparently saw Breonna and her boyfriend, Kenneth Walker, standing at the end of the hall. He claims Walker was in a shooting stance with a gun in hand, and that he fired at Mattingly first, who was struck in the thigh.

Cameron says Mattingly returned fire -- shooting six times -- while another officer behind him, Myles Cosgrove, also returned fire ... unloading 16 rounds. As for Hankison, Cameron says he fired 10 rounds from outside, which went everywhere ... including into another unit.

Cameron says Breonna was struck 6 times, and that the forensic reports indicate the one fatal bullet that killed her likely came from Cosgrove's weapon. He stressed that there wasn't conclusive evidence that Hankison's bullets hit her -- it was just Mattingly and Cosgrove's, and because of that ... Cameron said his office couldn't look into any criminality around her death, as he says the 2 officers inside were authorized and justified in their use of force, under Kentucky law.

Cameron also noted that justice is not easy and not meant to appease what the public wants -- under the letter of law, it can only answer to the facts. He also pled with Kentucky residents not to allow outside influences and voices to tell them out to feel about this.

Of course, Breonna's family's own legal team -- led by Ben Crump -- feel very differently about the results here. Crump said the fact that Hankison was charged for wanton endangerment of OTHER people besides Breonna is "outrageous and offensive."

He also made a pretty good point ... that if Hankison was charged for endangering others while firing recklessly, how is it possible he wasn't charged for endangering Breonna herself? While the AG did not specifically touch on that, presumably ... Hankison, too, was found to be justified, at least in part, when he fired from the outside in.

Crump emphasized that point by writing, "How ironic and typical that the only charges brought in this case were for shots fired into the apartment of a white neighbor, while no charges were brought for shots fired into the Black neighbor's apartment or into Breonna's residence."

He goes on to call the decision an utter travesty of justice, but goes on to hold out hope that the pending federal investigation into possible civil rights violations might bring about some actual closure the family and the Black community is looking for.

It's been a long road up to this point, which Cameron also touched on ... saying he and his team wanted to turn over every stone and conduct their investigation from scratch.

MoneyBagg Yo I Was Not Targeted in Shooting!!! During Vegas Bday Soirée

092320_moneybagg_yo_kal
SHOTS FIRED

MoneyBagg Yo is denying rumors he was the target in a shooting during his birthday celebration in Las Vegas.

The Memphis rapper and Yo Gotti protege addressed the incident that went down Tuesday, around 11 PM, outside the Aria Resort & Casino. As he put it on social media ... "Shot at who? Ain't no motherf***er shot at us" while sitting inside his brand new Maybach SUV ... a birthday gift from his GF.

Law enforcement sources tell TMZ ... a group of people outside the Aria got into an altercation while in the valet section. At some point, during the fight, at least one person fired gunshots. Our sources say one woman suffered a minor grazing injury and was treated and released from the hospital.

Someone who was there was on Instagram Live when the shots rang out and captured the chaos. You can hear three shots at what sounds like pretty close range and then someone yells, "They're coming back" ... as tires screech.

We're told the shooting suspect remains at large and cops say the investigation is ongoing. While MoneyBagg Yo insists he was NOT the target this time ... there's good reason fans thought it was about him.

Back in 2017, his sprinter van was reportedly targeted in New Jersey while on tour. Two men inside the van suffered gunshot wounds. And, in 2016 ... a woman was reportedly killed after gunfire erupted at one of his Mississippi concerts.

Hero Dad Shot While Shielding His 3 Kids ... Gunman Fires on Car Dealership

092320_bronx_shootout_kal
DUCK AND COVER

A father's instincts kicked in when gunshots rang out inside a car dealership ... covering his 3 kids with his body and taking a bullet for them.

The incident unfolded Monday night around 7:30 PM inside a car dealership in the Bronx when 3 men started shooting multiple rounds at a fourth guy, who returned fire.

Surveillance video shows the father sitting on a couch with his 3 small children when the bullets started flying. He immediately threw himself on top of the kids, dragging them to the floor and completely covering them with. Our law enforcement sources say the hero's name is Anthony Jefferson, and he was shot in his right thigh.

We're told Anthony was taken to a hospital and is in stable condition. The gunmen ultimately fled on foot. At this time it's unknown what led to the shooting, and police are searching for the suspects.

We know this ... those kids have a badass father!

Dijon Kizzee's Independent Autopsy Confirms He Was Shot 15 Times ... Lawyers Sound Off on L.A. Sheriff

092220_dijon_kizzee_main_kal
GOING AFTER THE SHERIFF
Fox 11

Dijon Kizzee was shot at 19 times by police officers and struck 15 times -- most of which hit his body as he was already on the ground -- this according to an independent investigation by his family.

The legal team for Dijon’s family just revealed the autopsy findings and sounded off on law enforcement -- specifically L.A. County Sheriff Alex Villanueva -- claiming he and the entire department is trying to justify a blatant lack of humanity in Kizzee’s killing … which they call an execution.

Attorney Carl Douglas went first by repeating that Kizzee was shot at 19 times … which he claims shows the cops had no humanity for his life, along with poor training.

Douglas says Kizzee’s killing demonstrates a “warrior mentality” that permeates across police departments in the U.S. He adds that the 19 shots tell him the officers involved did not perceive a threat … but rather did what they felt they had to do to “maintain their integrity back at the office.”

Civil rights attorney Ben Crump referred to Kizzee’s death as an execution, and also rebuked Sheriff Villanueva for "trying to justify the unjustifiable." Crump says the shooting of Kizzee is the latest tragic example of what he calls the "1619 pandemic" … his term for the unjust killings of Black people due to systemic racism in America.

092220_dijon_kizzee_sub_kal
AUTOPSY REPORT
Fox 11

Douglas also revealed a detailed chart of Kizzee's 15 gunshot wounds, 7 of which he says were in his back as he was facing away from the cops. He says the doctor who conducted the autopsy says several of the wounds are elongated ... because Kizzee was on the ground when he was shot.

Douglas goes on to say witnesses describe hearing shots, then a pause, then a flurry of shots from the officers. The lawyer claims Kizzee was not holding a gun at any point while he was shot at by the cops. He also alleges Kizzee did not die right away, but kept getting shot at despite being unarmed.

Douglas then called for L.A. District Attorney Jackie Lacey to arrest and charge the officers who killed Kizzee.

As we told you ... Tuesday's press conference was in response to last week's claim by the Sheriff's Dept. that its investigation determined Kizzee picked up a loaded pistol that had fallen to the ground just before deputies fatally shot him on Aug. 31.

090220_dijon_kizzee_kal
THE FATAL SHOOTING
@AttorneyCrump/Twitter

The LASD previously requested a security hold on Kizzee's county autopsy, which suggests the report won't be released until the Sheriff's Dept. has completed its investigation, which remains open.

090220_dijon_kizzee_sub_kal
BEFORE AND AFTER THE SHOOTING

As we've reported ... protests erupted following Kizzee's killing and have been ongoing in L.A. this month, resulting in multiple confrontations and arrests.

Video of the incident shows Kizzee -- who was initially stopped for an alleged vehicle code violation while riding a bicycle -- getting into a physical altercation with a cop, before deputies shot him multiple times as he ran away.

Cops say a handgun allegedly belonging to Kizzee was recovered at the scene. Crump has argued that even if Kizzee possessed a gun during the altercation, he didn't point it at them and was not a threat by the time he was running away.

Bobby Shmurda Parole Denied!!! Stuck in Prison 'Til 2021

Like the rest of the world, Bobby Shmurda has little to no reason to celebrate 2020 -- because he's not getting out of prison just yet ... despite high hopes he would be paroled.

Law enforcement sources tell TMZ ... Bobby was denied parole after his interview with the Board last week. No reason was given as to why, but we're told he's almost certainly going to be held in custody until the very end of his max sentence ... December 11, 2021.

We know Bobby has NOT been helping his own cause while doing his time. Remember, the rapper racked up 11 violations, including drug possession, fighting and having a shank -- and good behavior clearly weighs heavily with the parole board.

As we reported ... he copped a plea deal back in September 2016 ... to conspiracy to possess weapons and possession of a weapon. The other charges -- including conspiracy to commit murder -- were tossed. Bobby was initially sentenced to 6 to 7 years in prison, and he's been in December 2014.

TMZ broke the story ... Bobby's mother told us her son was ready to drop new music if granted parole, and he also wants to produce a documentary about his life ... in the hopes it can be used as an educational tool for troubled youth.

That documentary's gonna have to wait a little longer.

'Storage Wars' Star Dan Dotson Son's Alleged Shooter Arrested ... Son Up & Walking

Good news comes in 2s for "Storage Wars" star Dan Dotson -- the man suspected of shooting his son, Garrett, has been arrested and TMZ's learned Garrett is quickly on the mend.

A spokesperson for the Lake Havasu City Police Department tells TMZ ... detectives located the suspect, Garret Wilder, around noon Tuesday and arrested the 21-year-old without incident. We're told cops served a search warrant at the home where they found Wilder and recovered a handgun along with a single spent shell casing.

We're told Wilder was charged with 2 counts of aggravated assault, drive-by shooting, misconduct involving weapons, disorderly conduct with a weapon and endangerment. He's being held on $1 million cash-only bond.

As for what exactly led to the shooting early Sunday morning -- cops say Garrett had a heated exchange of words with Wilder, who was in his car. Wilder eventually fired one shot from a pistol, striking Garrett in the abdomen.

As we reported, he was airlifted to a Las Vegas trauma hospital where he's in stable condition. Our sources say Garrett's actually up and walking already, which is pretty amazing ... considering doctors said the bullet hit a main blood vessel and fractured his spine.

After he came out of surgery, Garrett was able to move his foot ... a very positive sign. He was moved out of ICU Sunday night and no longer needed a ventilator.

We're told Garrett's spoken to his mom and dad several times already and they're hopeful he'll be released in the next week or so. Due to COVID, Dan and Laura haven't seen their son at the hospital. Right now they're trying to figure out Garrett's long ride home from Vegas to California.

YFN Lucci Fires Gun During Music Video Shoot ... Seems Accidental

091620_yfn_lucci_kal
TRIGGER HAPPY

YFN Lucci came in guns blazing to a music video shoot, but didn't seem to know he had a loaded gun in his hand until it was too late.

The rapper was recently on set when someone handed him a semi-automatic weapon of some sort to use as a prop ... except it wasn't fake, this thing was very much real.

Lucci didn't seem to realize that until he pulled the trigger and fired off a round as 3 other people were gathered around him. The shot scared the crap out of everyone -- some screamed and everyone scattered. The ammo appeared to leave a hole in the studio floor.

What that could mean ... the gun was loaded with actual bullets, instead of just blanks. Obviously, super dangerous. Fortunately, it doesn't look like anyone was hurt ... at least from what we can see here.

This isn't the first run-in with clips Lucci has had lately -- you'll recall his Mercedes SUV was riddled with bullet holes in a drive-by shooting out in Atlanta, which he luckily survived. Someone else did get hit in the shoot-out though.

It's unclear where Lucci's music video was being recorded, but there are very strict rules about prop weapons in the entertainment industry. Bottom line ... someone screwed up, and it might cost 'em.

Notorious B.I.G OG Plastic Crown Sells for Half a Mil ... Originally Cost $6!!!

The Notorious B.I.G.'s famed King of NY crown just got passed on to another for an absurd price -- over half a million bucks, which is juuust a bit north of the OG street value.

It's true, the headpiece Biggie wore in his iconic final photoshoot from 1997 -- that's been duplicated in prints thousands of times over -- just got sold off in a Sotheby's auction ... ultimately going to a bidder who was willing to spend a whopping $594,750 for the thing.

Pretty badass, right?!? Well, maybe ... keep in mind, the crown is actually made of plastic -- and ended up costing the photog who first used it with Biggie a mere $6 off the street.

Do the math ... and that's just about a 10,000,000% markup in value. And, all because the crown was worn by B.I.G. -- plus, the fact it's gone on to become a fixture in pop culture.

And, get this -- the photog, Barron Claiborne, says the crown concept almost didn't happen ... and it's apparently because Diddy wasn't feeling it at the time, allegedly saying it was gonna make Biggie look like "Burger King." Big Poppa didn't care though ... he wore it anyway.

As they say, heavy is the head that wears the crown. And, even heavier is the price tag.

'Storage Wars' Star Dan Dotson Son Shot in Lake Havasu ... Life Saved in Surgery

The son of "Storage Wars" star Dan Dotson got shot and had to be airlifted to a hospital for surgery ... but he's expected to survive.

Dan shared the troubling news Sunday on Twitter, saying he got a call his son, Garrett, was shot in Lake Havasu, Arizona. Dan said Garrett was stable at first, but then things got worse a few hours later.

Garrett's mom, Laura, tells TMZ ... her son was walking his date to a car when he heard someone say something and then he got shot. She said he was able to call 911 himself and rushed to a local hospital ... where doctors determined the bullet hit a main blood vessel to his heart and also fractured his spine.

Laura says the injury was so bad he had to be airlifted to a Vegas trauma hospital ... and during the flight a doctor's hand was in Garrett's chest to stop the bleeding. She says the move saved his life.

We're told he's now out of surgery and was able to move his foot, which is a very positive sign.

Dan wrote ... "Thank you to the surgeon that saved my son from bleeding out on the air trip to Vegas Thank you everyone for the prayers & positive thoughts thrown our way. Garrett is out of surgery & is expected to survive."

We reached out to law enforcement about the shooting. Police say no arrests have been made yet, but they are actively investigating.

L.A. County Sheriff's Dept. 2 Deputies Ambushed, Shot Protesters Yell, 'We Hope They Die'

091220_deputies_shot_kal_v2 9/12/20
DEPUTIES AMBUSHED
@LASDHQ/Twitter
UPDATE

1:47 PM PT -- L.A. County is now offering a $100,000 reward for information leading to the arrest of the suspect who shot two of the Sheriff's Department's deputies.

UPDATE

10:53 AM PT -- The L.A. County Sheriff's Dept. claims protesters tried bum-rushing the hospital where two of their deputies are in critical condition, blocked some of the emergency entrances and exits ... and allegedly began chanting, "We hope they die."

UPDATE
UPDATE

LASD writes, "To the protesters blocking the entrance & exit of the HOSPITAL EMERGENCY ROOM yelling "We hope they die" referring to 2 LA Sheriff's ambushed today in #Compton: DO NOT BLOCK EMERGENCY ENTRIES & EXITS TO THE HOSPITAL. People's lives are at stake when ambulances can't get through."

UPDATE

Video that purportedly shows this going down circulated online Saturday night, and it depicts what appears to be a group of demonstrators confronting cops that are standing guard ... and making derogatory comments.

UPDATE

6:36 AM PT -- President Trump has responded, "If they die, fast trial death penalty for the killer." Joe Biden called the shooting "cold-blooded" and "unconscionable," adding the shooter "must be brought to justice."

Two L.A. County Sheriff's deputies were shot Saturday night and are now fighting for their lives.

The deputies -- a man and a woman -- were sitting in their patrol car Saturday in Compton when a man walked up to the car with a gun and fired inside, striking both. The man quickly fled from the scene.

The Sheriff's Dept., says both deputies were shot multiple times and they are both undergoing surgery. Their condition is critical.

The suspect was not caught. The LASD tweeted the video of the incident after holding a press conference last night.

The 2 critically injured deputies had only been on the force for 14 months.

Originally published -- 5:57 AM PT