Lady Gaga: Weird teen killer?

Cape May, NJ -- The parents of a teenager who suffocated to death after copying Lady Gaga's egg incubation stunt are considering a lawsuit against the singer for involuntary manslaughter.

Chance Coleman, 14, died after the air-tight storage chest in which he placed himself accidentally locked up. The teen hadn't been seen or heard from since Thursday when he posted an update on his Facebook account telling all his friends that he was "off to incubate for three days like Gaga."

The teen was referring to the "Poker Face" singer's appearance on the Good Morning America show in which she claimed that she stayed inside a giant egg for three days, and the experience she had convinced her that "we all need to be inside a vessel for a three whole days." The pop singer was responding to a question about the specially-crafted contraption from which she emerged during last Sunday's Grammy Awards ceremony.

"Chance copies Gaga all the time, so I didn't think much of it when he announced his plan," said 15-year-old Jonas DiMateo, the teen's best friend. "I mean, he once braided his hair with used condoms and showed up at school wearing his dad's hockey tape as a shirt."

Coleman's lifeless body was discovered after friends showed up at his house the next day, wondering how his incubation went. His parents, Jim and Louise Coleman, had assumed he was out hanging out with his friends.

Cape May City Police Sgt. Dorotea DiMecci, who responded to the 911 call, said it's a sad day when the life of a young individual is cut so short, simply because of the "sheer stupidity of some people."

"Lady Gaga should know better than to spout off remarks like what she said on TV," said DiMecci. "She has some very impressionable fans."

Jim and Louise Coleman said that as soon as they put the tragic event behind them, they will "seriously consider legal action."

"If we didn't have Lady Gaga going on TV in an egg, our son would still be with us today," said the distraught couple. "To many people, Lady Gaga may be a pop idol, but to us, she is and will always be nothing but a weird teen killer."

Faisal Shahzad: If I can't make it there...

New York, NY -- As federal investigation into the attempted bombing in New York's Times Square continues, new details have emerged pointing to another possible motivation that led to suspect Faisal Shahzad's criminal actions: revenge for a failed Broadway career.

Anonymous sources say the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) has obtained strong evidence indicating the Pakistani born U.S. citizen had tried to forge a career on the Broadway stage as early as 2004, when he tried out for the role of Jacob in the revival of La Cage aux Folles. With no real stage experience under his belt, Shahzad failed to get the part, which eventually went to Michael Benjamin Washington.

The initial setback did not stop Shahzad from pursuing his Broadway dream. He subsequently auditioned for parts in countless other shows including Rent, Avenue Q, Wicked, Spring Awakening, and most recently, The Lion King. All of his Broadway attempts met with disappointing results, and that may have pushed the one-time accountant to go over the edge, according to the top secret FBI files.

"There is a strong possibility this is simply the vengeful act of a man who wanted to sing and dance on Broadway but didn't get to."

"The last straw may have been his outright rejection by the casting team for 'The Lion King,'" said an FBI insider. "This fully explains why he parked the explosives-filled vehicle adjacent to the Minskoff Theatre which was showing that musical."

Since his arrest Monday, Shahzad has taken full responsibility for the failed terrorist attack, claiming he had received training in bomb-making in the Waziristan region of Pakistan. Pakistani foreign affairs minister Shah Mehmood Qureshi said there is ample reason to believe the Taliban may have been involved. Federal investigators are still mum on the issue.

"It's far too easy to slap the Taliban or Al-Qaeda label on Shahzad," said the FBI insider. "But there is a strong possibility this is simply the vengeful act of a man who wanted to sing and dance on Broadway but didn't get to. The investigation is considering this as a valid angle."

A complaint filed in federal court on Tuesday charges Shahzad with five counts of terrorism-related crimes, including attempting to use a weapon of mass destruction. If convicted on these charges, he faces up to life in prison.

Cougar: Stopped by a pussy

Gros Cap, MI -- A 13-year-old boy survived a potentially emotionally scarring cougar attack thanks to a three-week-old kitten that proved to be too cute to resist.

Bart Lloyd was in his family's backyard playing in the snow with his kitten Fluffy when he was confronted by 45-year-old cougar Kim Siegfried of Garfield Township, who had managed to slip into the premises through an unlocked side entrance.

"She had this hungry look on her face and asked me if my parents were home," said Lloyd, who immediately sensed the danger and started toward the house.

Siegfried allegedly charged toward him, but stopped dead in her tracks after spotting the kitten on the porch. She instantly came up to the light orange tabby and started petting it.

The distraction gave the boy enough time to get back into the house and call the police.

"Fortunately, the nearest state trooper was just a minute away," said Miranda Lloyd, the boy's mother.

"Sometimes it's slim pickings for these ladies, especially the ones who are getting on in years," Gore said. "They get desperate, and boys like Bart are easy targets."

When the trooper arrived, the cougar had Fluffy in her lap and was singing Donna Lewis's "I Love You Always Forever." She was handcuffed and remanded into custody, pending charges of child endangerment and attempted sexual abuse.

The kitten reeked of Elizabeth Arden's Red Door but is otherwise unhurt. The boy is shaken up a bit, but is expected to recover from the scary experience.

"I think he's slowly getting over the fact that he was sexually targeted by an older woman, and very grateful his kitten was there to deflect the attention," said the boy's father, Anthony Lloyd.

Sgt. Randall Gore of the Michigan State Police said it's uncommon – but not unheard of – for cougars to go after young boys.

"Sometimes it's slim pickings for these ladies, especially the ones who are getting on in years," Gore said. "They get desperate, and boys like Bart are easy targets."

Hartford: Saved by perm

Lubbock, TX -- A man who has just had a perm was held up at gunpoint but mysteriously let go by a mugger in an incident that has baffled police.

Brian Hartford, 34, said he was walking to his car after getting a perm at the Village Hairstyles Salon on 82nd St. when he was accosted by the would-be robber who was wearing a stocking over his face to conceal his identity. The gun-wielding man immediately demanded money, but paused after noticing Hartford's hair.

"He seemed to be mesmerized by my hair," Hartford said. "He just stared at it for a long time, and then told me 'Your hair is nice' before walking away."

Hartford said he contemplated running to his car to get his shotgun and chase after the would-be robber, but instead decided to call 911 to report the incident. Lubbock Police Officer Harold Kemp, who took Hartford's statement at the scene of the uncommitted crime, said they are working on identifying the hooligan, who may have mugged others in the area.

"Our criminal profiler is presently focusing on this guy's fascination with curly hair," said Kemp. "He can run, but he can't hide. We're gonna bag this curly-hair-adoring thug. It's only a matter of time."

Hartford said he is going to put the experience behind him and is thankful for the good job his beautician did on his hair.

"I'm just glad I got the perm. If that guy had gotten to me with my limp and lifeless hair, Christmas would've been very bleak this year," said Hartford.

Tom Cruise: I'm so happy!

North Las Vegas, NV -- A homeless man in the Clark County area has been rendered pantless after Hollywood superstar Tom Cruise successfully sued him for slander and defamation of character.

In a landmark ruling, the North Las Vegas Supreme Court found Roderick Gillis, 54, guilty of slandering the Top Gun star for sleeping in a cardboard box which had graffiti on it that said "Tom, UR so gay!".

In his brief opening statement, Cruise's lawyer, Haskell Watkins said: "My client is one of the most famous people in the world, if not the most famous. Any use of his name, be it first or last, in any negative tone whatsoever is libelous and must not be tolerated."

The trial, which only lasted for two hours, heard testimony from a number of people, including Cruise's publicist Paul Bloch and Rainman co-star Dustin Hoffman, who echoed the prosecution team's argument.

"When I see or hear the name Tom, all I could think of is Tom Cruise," said Hoffman. "The message on the defendant's shelter is most definitely malicious in my opinion."

The lawsuit originally sought damages of up to $15 million USD, but Judge Hilda Gomez called for leniency and reduced them to the pair of pants Gillis was wearing in court. She also ordered his cardboard shelter to be destroyed immediately.

"I hope this teaches you a lesson, Mr. Gillis. We are all responsible for our actions. You can't just say or do anything you want in our civilized society," Gomez told the defendant shortly after he was de-panted.

Cruise wasn't present during the court proceedings but Bloch said he is "extremely pleased" with the outcome. When asked what the movie star would do with a homeless man's pants, he said: "He'll probably have them cleaned and de-loused and give them to one of his gardeners for Narconon Day. But none of that is important. What's important is that justice prevailed."

The defendant's lawyer, Jericho Martinez, was nonplused and felt sorry for his client. "My heart goes out to him," he said. "We tried our best, but it's just hard to go up against someone like Mr. Cruise, and with their bullet-proof argument."

"What am I supposed to do now? That was my last good pair," said Gillis after the court was adjourned. The former postal worker said he has no plans to appeal the decision and "will probably move to Florida" in the summer.