Posted Dec 1st 2008 3:00PM by TMZ Staff
A judge set bail for Plaxico Burress at $100,000 today and a grand jury hearing has been set for March 31. He did not enter a plea.
The prosecutor had asked for a $250,000 bail due to the nature of the felony. His attorney argued that since Plax had a $35 million contract, he wasn't going anywhere. Apparently, the judge agreed.
According to court docs that detail what went down over the weekend, Plax was holding a drink in his left hand while fidgeting around his waistband with his right. A witness reported hearing a loud "pop" sound and Plax saying, "Take me to the hospital." His leg began to shake and a pistol fell out of his pant leg and onto the floor.
As for the illegal weapons charge, if convicted Plax could face as much as a 15-year prison sentence. His lawyer, Benjamin Brafman, told the judge the gun in question had been registered in Florida and even though Plax has a house in New Jersey, he spends half his time in the Sunshine State.
Story developing ...
Filed under: Talk Sports
Posted Dec 1st 2008 2:15PM by TMZ Staff
With his hands cuffed firmly behind his back, Plaxico Burress just left a NYC police precinct after turning himself in on a felony weapons charge. He'll be arraigned sometime this afternoon, we're told.
As he was placed in handcuffs, sources say Plax "looked really, really down ... shellshocked."
Click here to live chat!Filed under: Celebrity Justice, Talk Sports
Posted Dec 1st 2008 11:03AM by TMZ Staff
Plaxico Burress just went into the 17th Precinct of the NYPD.
Dressed in a suit, Burress arrived in an SUV with his lawyer. He's expected to enter a not guilty plea to one charge of illegal possession of a weapon, a felony, once he's arraigned.
Story developing ...
Filed under: Celebrity Justice, Talk Sports
Posted Dec 1st 2008 8:40AM by TMZ Staff
Plaxico Burress walked into the 17th Precinct just moments ago to turn himself into cops.
As TMZ reported yesterday, Burress will enter a plea of not guilty to one charge of illegal possession of a weapon, a felony, once he's arraigned. We're told he may also be charged with reckless endangerment.
Burress' lawyer Ben Brafman just said Plax is going to be arraigned at 100 Centre Street at 1 PM today, and will plead not guilty to the felony possession charge.
Story developing ...
Filed under: Talk Sports
Posted Dec 1st 2008 8:00AM by TMZ Staff
As with so many misdeeds, the coverup is worse than the crime itself ... especially injecting Applebee's restaurant.
We're hearing the same things the NYC papers are reporting today: After Plaxico Burress accidentally shot himself in the leg, he scrambled to concoct a phony story. When he belatedly went to the hospital, he claimed to hospital admissions staff he was shot at an Applebee's restaurant.
According to the NY Post, Burress used the alias Harris Smith, but staffers recognized him and blew his cover.
The Post says New York-Cornell Hospital did not report the gunshot to cops.
Also, club owners didn't call the cops after the incident, and may have cleaned up before the NYPD arrived, according to the paper.
Filed under: Talk Sports
Posted Dec 1st 2008 5:20AM by TMZ Staff
Looks like Michael Phelps has at least as many girls as gold medals.
We showed you pictures of Caroline Pal, the Palms Las Vegas cocktail waitress he supposedly took home to Mom for Thanksgiving, but according to the Chicago Sun-Times, she's not the only galpal he's got. "Michael is having a great time. He's been dating a number of girls and is just enjoying his celebrity,'' says a family pal.
The friend also says Phelps is too sensitive about his corporate image to exclusively date someone who, well, looks like this.
Filed under: Hook-Ups, Talk Sports, Michael Phelps
Posted Nov 30th 2008 5:51PM by TMZ Staff
TMZ has learned the NYPD paid a visit to Plaxico Burress' house this afternoon, and retrieved what appears to be the gun that triggered this whole mess.
The cops arrived with a manila envelope, but a search warrant was NOT inside.
We're told Burress was not there, but authorized someone inside his home to give police the gun that apparently fell down his leg at a nightclub Friday night and accidentally fired.
It would appear reports that he dumped the gun somewhere in New Jersey are not accurate. As we reported, Burress will surrender tomorrow, and plead not guilty to a felony weapon charge.
Filed under: Talk Sports
Posted Nov 30th 2008 1:55PM by TMZ Staff
Plaxico Burress' lawyer, Ben Brafman, just told us they were making arrangements for Plaxico to turn himself in tomorrow morning.
Ben said Burress will enter a plea of not guilty to one charge of illegal possession of a weapon, a felony.
Sources tell TMZ Burress could also be charged with reckless endangerment.
Ben Brafman tells TMZ his client "Intends to address the charges in a responsible manner as a true professional," adding, "I would hope that his fans reserve judgment in this matter until all of the facts are developed."
Brafman just left Plaxico's New Jersey home, where the wide receiver has been holed up since the shooting.
Filed under: Talk Sports
Posted Nov 30th 2008 12:30PM by TMZ Staff
Giants co-owner John Mara, legendary former player Carl Banks and current running back Brandon Jacobs were all mum last night on the Plaxico Burress shooting. All three dodged questions in their own special way.
FYI: Jacobs -- who is around 6'4" and weighs 265 pounds -- tried hiding behind a pole.
Filed under: Talk Sports
Posted Nov 30th 2008 12:23PM by TMZ Staff
Plaxico Burress has finally made a good decision -- by hiring the lawyer that got P. Diddy a unanimous "not guilty" in his 1999 gun case.
Burress is teaming up with Benjamin Brafman, who told us: "Yes I am representing him [Plaxico]." Ben also said Plaxico "may be surrendering to face charges. We are still discussing it."
Brafman helped Diddy skate on illegal weapons and bribery charges after a 1999 shooting inside a Manhattan club -- when Diddy had Jennifer Lopez in tow -- that was witnessed by over 50 people.
Filed under: Talk Sports
Posted Nov 30th 2008 11:50AM by TMZ Staff
Our camera guy had the audacity to think one of the greatest NFL quarterbacks of all time, Joe Montana, was movie flopper Kevin Costner -- repeatedly. But on the bright side, at least our guy didn't think Joe was Hannah Montana's dad.
Filed under: Talk Sports
Posted Nov 30th 2008 11:46AM by TMZ Staff
Law enforcement sources tell TMZ the most likely charge Plaxico Burress will face is illegal gun possession. He does not have a permit to carry a concealed weapon in New York.
The NY Daily News reported Burress had a permit to carry a concealed weapon in Florida but it expired last May. In any event, that permit would not allow him to pack heat in NYC.
Filed under: Celebrity Justice, Talk Sports
Posted Nov 30th 2008 6:28AM by TMZ Staff
NY Giants wide receiver Plaxico Burress may be arrested on felony gun charges after shooting himself in a NYC club this weekend, and his teammate could be charged with trying to cover it up.
Burress went to the Latin Quarter nightclub but was initially turned away, according to the New York Daily News. But the paper says club management had a change of heart after Burress came back, "flashing jewelry and carrying loads of cash," reportedly telling management he needed the gun for protection.
According to the Daily News, Burress was being taken into a VIP area when he fumbled with the gun as it began slipping down his pant leg. The gun fired, and the bullet tore through his leg.
According to the paper Burress told his teammate Antonio Pierce not to call 911. Pierce then reportedly helped Burress out of the club and they allegedly 86'd the gun somewhere in New Jersey.
The Daily News claims Burress tried hard to cover it all up, but the plan was foiled after a Giants employee called the NYPD and reported the incident.
Story developing...
Filed under: Celebrity Justice, Talk Sports
Posted Nov 29th 2008 12:30PM by TMZ Staff
He's shot himself in the foot all season, and now it appears NY Giants wide receiver Plaxico Burress shot himself in the leg last night -- with an actual firearm!
It all went down in a Manhattan nightclub called The Latin Quarter -- details of the incident are sketchy and so far a police report has not been filed.
Burress' leg injury is being reported as "non-life threatening" and he reportedly left the hospital some time this morning.
It's been a hell of a year for Plax, who was fined heavily earlier this season for ditching a team meeting.
UPDATE: We're told the police are currently at the nightclub investigating the incident.
The Giants have issued the following statement:
"We are aware of the fact that Plaxico was involved in an apparent accidental shooting last night. We have been in contact with Plaxico since shortly after the incident. Plaxico suffered a wound to his right thigh. Obviously, our primary concern is for Plaxico's health and well-being, and given the circumstances, we are relieved to say he was released from a New York City hospital at approximately 2 p.m. today. We have been in touch with NFL Security on this matter. At this point, we are attempting to gather all the facts surrounding this incident. This incident could become a matter for law enforcement officials, and because of that, we have no comment on any of the details."
Filed under: Talk Sports
Posted Nov 29th 2008 11:17AM by TMZ Staff
It's a clash of the titan egos as Lebron James looks forward to putting some serious money where Charles Barkley's mouth is.
The Cleveland Cavalier is calling Charles Barkley "stupid," firing back at remarks that Charles Barkley recently made saying James needs to "shut the hell up" because he isn't showing respect for Cleveland fans and his teammates by discussing a possible free agency following the 2010 season.
But hey -- with the Knicks clearing up some salary-cap space in anticipation of the 2010 free-agent status, it's easy to see how Barkley's sideline advice might fall on deaf ears.
Filed under: Talk Sports
