10 celebs who killed people accidentally or deliberately: From Snoop Dogg to Alec Baldwin

10 celebs who killed people accidentally or deliberately

While killing can be termed as one of the most heinous crimes of mankind, some celebrities - both actors and professional athletes - have sometimes deliberately or accidentally killed people. While some have received their due punishments by the courts, some faced traumatic episodes. Here are ten such celebs who may have killed people accidentally or deliberately.

1. Matthew Broderick

'Ferris Bueller's Day Off' star Matthew Broderick was involved in a tragic car accident when he was visiting Ireland with his then-girlfriend Jennifer Grey in 1987. Broderick, who was driving a rented BMW 316 from Irvinestown to Maguiresbridge in the middle of a heavy downpour, rammed his car into an oncoming one from the opposite side, killing two individuals - 28-year-old Amy Gallagher and her mother Margaret Doherty, 63. Broderick spent four weeks in the hospital after being gravely injured. Local firefighter Ken Ramsey, who rescued the injured in the crash, said the actor's "main concern was for the people in the other car" when he was rescued. While Broderick was charged with causing death by dangerous driving, he pleaded guilty to lesser charges of careless driving and paid a fine of $175. Margaret's son Martin Doherty said to the New York Post, "He didn't kill my mother and sister deliberately. There were strong feelings at the time, but I have since forgiven him and feel no anger toward him," per LADbible.

2. Laura Bush

Former first lady Laura Bush was also involved in a tragic car accident when she ran a stop sign and struck another car - killing 17-year-old Michael Douglas. Bush was 17 years old herself at the time. She recalled the incident during the 2000 presidential election campaign for former President George Bush. She also recounted the repercussions of the accident when she wrote in her 2010 book 'Spoken From the Heart', "I lost my faith that November, lost it for many, many years," before adding, "It was the first time that I had prayed to God for something, begged him for something, not the simple childhood wishing on a star but humbly begging for another human life. And it was as if no one heard," per NPR. She also wrote that she was "wracked by guilt for years after the crash, especially after not attending the funeral and for not reaching out to the parents of the dead teenager."

3. Rebecca Gayheart

Car accidents have become one of the most common reasons for unnatural deaths in the US. The 'Beverly Hills, 90210' alum Rebecca Gayheart too was involved in one such case. The actress had a horrifying experience when she was involved in a car accident that killed a nine-year-old boy, Jorge Cruz Jr. Gayheart shared that on June 13, 2001, she was driving when the car in front of her hit the brakes. Gayheart went around the car, hitting the young boy who was on the road to fetch his soccer ball. The actress shared, per USA Today, "If a car in front of you hits their brakes and they stop, you don't go around them to avoid hitting them. You hit them because there's a reason they're stopping," before adding, "I couldn't see that reason, but that is something that everyone should know." Gayheart was sentenced to probation, a one-year suspension of her license, a $2,800 fine and 750 hours of community service after pleading no contest to vehicular manslaughter in November 2001. Per the outlet, Gayheart settled a wrongful death lawsuit filed by the child’s parents out of court. The actress also paid for his funeral and medical expenses.

4. Henry Ruggs

Ex-Las Vegas Raiders footballer Henry Ruggs was charged with the killing of Tina Tintor and her dog Max, in a predawn crash on November 2, 2021. In 2023, the former Raiders player was sentenced to at least three years in a Nevada prison. As per reports, Huggs was speeding his sports car up to 156 mph while being drunk, per AP.

5. Johnny Lewis

'Sons of Anarchy' star Johnny Lewis met with a tragic end as he jumped off a roof after killing his 81-year-old landlady, Catherine Davis, by manual strangulation and blunt force trauma to her head in 2012. Before the incident, Lewis was arrested thrice between 2011 and 2012, and was also charged with assault with a deadly weapon. 

6. Vince Neil

Like many other entrants of this list, Vince Neil of Motley Crue too killed a man in a car accident. In December 1984, Neil, after coming home from a show during the Shout at the Devil tour, directly landed himself into a house party. Once the alcohol in their house was finished, Neil went out in his car to procure more booze with the band's drummer Razzle by his side. Unfortunately, he careened his car into the next lane and collided head-on with a car in the opposite lane, killing Razzle in the accident. Though he was going to go on trial for manslaughter, with his blood alcohol level well above the permissible limit, he extracted himself from any punishment by paying a hefty sum of money and changing his lifestyle, per Far Out.

7. Aaron Hernandez

NFL tight end Aaron Hernandez was arrested and charged for the murder of Odin Lloyd in 2013. Lloyd, at that time, was dating the sister of Hernandez's fiancee. Following his arrest in 2015, he was found guilty of first-degree murder and sentenced to life in prison without the possibility of parole at the Souza-Baranowski Correctional Center. The footballer was found dead in his cell in 2017. His death was ruled a suicide.

8. Alec Baldwin

Alec Baldwin had a grueling experience after a loaded gun was discharged killing cinematographer Halyna Hutchins during 'Rust's shooting on October 21, 2021. Baldwin, who was also the producer of the film, was holding the gun when the loaded pistol fired, killing cinematographer Hutchings and injuring director Joel Souza. Though the Santa Fe district attorney charged Baldwin and armorer Hannah Gutierrez-Reed with one count each of involuntary manslaughter in 2023, Baldwin pleaded not guilty. In July 2024, Baldwin was indicted and his charges were dismissed with prejudice. 

9. Snoop Dogg

Snoop Dogg was arrested and charged with first-degree murder in connection with a fatal shooting done by his bodyguard, McKinley Lee, in 1993. The man who died was Philip Woldermariam, a member of a rival gang. Dogg was charged as he was allegedly driving the car from which his bodyguard fired the shot. Nevertheless, both Snoop Dogg and his bodyguard were acquitted in February 1996.

10. Caitlyn Jenner 

In 2015, Caitlyn Jenner was involved in a fatal multi-car accident on the Pacific Coast Highway in Malibu, California. Jenner's SUV rear-ended a vehicle, pushing it into oncoming traffic, which led to a fatal collision that claimed the life of 69-year-old Kim Howe. Investigators determined that Jenner was driving below the speed limit but had been following too closely. Jenner's attorney in the court docs alleged "photographers "were [stalking] Jenner, chasing Jenner and harassing Jenner throughout the day, up through the time of the incident." While Jenner faced lawsuits from Howe's family and other parties involved, prosecutors declined to file criminal charges, citing insufficient evidence for vehicular manslaughter. The lawsuits were later settled out of court.