Actor acquitted of murder. Lillo Brancato, the young actor who had perfected the role of an up-and-coming Italian mobster, was acquitted Monday in the death of a New York City Police officer who was gunned down as he attempted to stop a burglary by Brancato and an accomplice. The jury said that Brancato was guilty of first-degree attempted burglary, but did not convict him of killing officer Daniel Enchautegui, who was shot by the accomplice. The jury could have found the 32-year-old Brancato guilty of second-degree murder, since the death occurred during the commission of another felony, but there were mitigating circumstances, which the jury bought. For example, Brancato was not armed and did not know that his sidekick had a gun. The accomplice, Steven Armento, 51, was convicted by another Bronx jury on Oct. 30 of first-degree murder in firing the fatal shot into Officer Enchautegui’s chest. He was sentenced last month to life in prison without the possibility of parole. Brancato is looking at anywhere from three to 15 years in prison for attempted burglary; he’s already served more than three years and could be credited with that time. New York Supreme Court Justice Martin Marcus will sentence Brancato on Jan. 9. Yolanda Rosa, Officer Enchautegui’s sister, was outraged by the decision. “I waited three long years for this,” she said. “I’m disappointed. What message is this sending out to New York police officers today?”

Taraji Henson provides woman with food, shelter. A Hurricane Katrina survivor has three months of rent-free housing courtesy of actress Taraji Henson. Henson, who co-starred in Baby Boy and Hustle & Flow, was in New Orleans filming The Curious Case of Benjamin Button when she met the single mom and her children. “This woman lost everything during Katrina and came back and got her little apartment,” Henson says. “She had two daughters she was raising by herself and then her apartment caught on fire, so she lost everything twice. I wanted to give her something besides toys because where would they put it? They didn’t have anywhere to stay.”

Snoop owes actor Russell Crowe a favor. Rapper Snoop Dogg will have to speak to a group of Australian children as partial repayment of a favor to Gladiator star Russell Crowe. Snoop expects to tour the continent late next month after recently having his ban from the country lifted. Crowe, who lives in Australia, helped plead Snoop’s case to the government, calling the rapper a “friend.” “I submit to you that Snoop Dogg poses no threat to Australia or to any individual in this country,” Crowe wrote in a letter. “He has toured here three times before without incident and there are no reasons to assume this tour will be anything but the positive experience the last three have been. Snoop has built a stellar reputation with promoters and audiences worldwide.” Crowe added that he had a “selfish motivation” as well, saying that Snoop promised to appear at a youth charity event for Crowe’s South Sydney Rugby League Club. He wrote:  ”Some of our First Grade players will attend with him and he will deliver a powerful and positive message about rising through adversity, drawing on his own underprivileged background as an example. As you can imagine, such a visit will have a phenomenal effect.” Snoop had been banned due to his criminal record.

He once rapped in the movie Hustle & Flow that it was hard out here for a pimp. But Terrence Howard knows from personal experience that it can also be hard for an ex, like it was when he separated from his wife. Howard, whose acclaimed acting will soon be compared with his music, wrote about the experience of stalking the mom of his three children after the couple split up. The song “No. 1 Fan” from his debut CD Shine It Through discusses the experience. “It was raining, and I was sitting there in front of the house, watching her come home from a date after we were divorced,” Howard tells the New York Times. “I was imagining what she did on this date, and watching her giving him a kiss. I went home and wrote this song.” Howard hopes his next big hit will be on the song charts, not in an appearance on “Cops.”

Rapper will tour with Ice Cube

Snoop Dogg will appear in concert in Australia with Ice Cube this fall after a ban against him was lifted. Snoop’s criminal record resulted in his being blocked from entering the continent by Immigration Minister Kevin Andrews last spring. But now he’s set to perform in the country for a 17-day tour beginning Oct. 21. The lift of Snoop’s ban has been met with anger by local activists who wanted the punishment to remain.

A public memorial is scheduled for this coming weekend at Chicago’s House of Hope after star comedian Bernie Mac’s death due to complications from pneumonia. Funeral arrangements for the popular performer and actor are pending, Mac’s daughter, Je’niece Childress, says. Family members expected that Mac, whose real name was Bernard McCullough, would overcome the illness when he came down with pneumonia three weeks ago. “He had sarcoidosis, but it was in remission,” Mac’s sister-in-law Mary Ann Grossett tells People. “But because he had it, his immune system was compromised.” Of Mac’s wife since 1977, Rhonda McCullough, Grossett adds: “She’s devastated, however, she’s at peace about his transition because of her faith in God. Her faith is what is sustaining her.  Services are scheduled for noon Saturday in the 10,000-seat House of Hope, 752 E. 114th St., Chicago, said Danica Smith, Mac’s publicist. Donations in Mac’s honor may be sent to the Bernie Mac Foundation for Sarcoidosis, 40 E. 9th St., Suite 601, Chicago, IL 60605, Smith said. See more on Bernie Mac at BET.com/News.

One man was arrested and another was being sought by police after gunshots disrupted a Florida charity event hosted by rapper Rick Ross. The Boss held his annual “Be Out Day” celebration this week, an event where he distributes food and school supplies, and encourages voter registration. Flo-Rida had performed and Ross had just taken the stage when the suspects began shooting and sending participants diving for cover. “The shots happened near the event … across the street, but it was close enough that it seemed as if it happened in the park (where the show was taking place),” says Elora Mason, publicist for Rick Ross Charities, Inc. “It’s not clear what brought it on, but police said the person shooting appeared to be shooting in the air.” The investigation is ongoing. Police cleared the stage, but Ross later returned to do a short performance and then sign autographs for some of those who remained. Ross says 2,000 backpacks were distributed.

Morgan Freeman reportedly “resting comfortably.”

Having undergone surgery for injuries connected to a weekend car crash, actor Morgan Freeman is back at home. A spokesman for the veteran actor says he left Memphis’ Regional Medical Center on Thursday. “He was released today at noon local time and is now resting comfortably,” Ken Sunshine says. Freeman and his passenger Demaris Meyer, who reportedly gave the hospital a phony name to hide her relationship with the married-but-separated star, were traveling in Mississippi when he lost control of the vehicle. Both occupants had to be cut out of the Nissan. Freeman later revealed that he and his long-time wife Myrna have been separated since December, apparently to quell speculation about Meyer’s identity. She was also treated for her injuries.

Remy Ma hopes legal eagle can come to rescue.

Just three months into an eight-year sentence for felonious assault, weapons possession and attempted coercion, rapper Remy Ma has hired a lawyer who she hopes will help her appeal her way to freedom. William “Billy” Murphy Jr. won an acquittal on behalf of boxing promoter Don King in 1998 after he’d been charged with defrauding Lloyd’s of London. Murphy has also represented DMX and Mary J. Blige, among other celebrities. “With the addition of Mr. Murphy…I now believe I have assembled a team that will have the might and expertise to tell my side of the story,” Remy says in a statement. “I am confident that after hearing everything, my side will prevail.” Remy was convicted this spring in the shooting of her former friend Makeda Barnes-Joseph in a dispute over money.

Actor Eddie Murphy says his fourth installment in the Beverly Hills Cop comedy/action series could be the final film of his career. Originally a stand-up comedian, Murphy says he misses his club roots. “Thirty years and I have close to 50 movies and it is like, ‘Why am I in the movies? I’ve done that part now,’” Murphy says. “I’ll go back to the stage and do stand-up.” next film to hit theaters is the comedy Meet Dave.

Joy Bryant gives up single life
Joy Bryant, who co-stars in Get Rich or Die Tryin’ and Welcome Home, Roscoe Jenkins, among other films, is married. The beauty, 31, wed her stunt man boyfriend David Pope, 37, this past weekend in New York . The pair reportedly met on the set of Welcome Home,

Janet Jackson is set to become the next reality TV star with a show that will find her mentoring other singers and performers. The mega-entertainer’s MTV series will put Jackson in the role of talent scout, seeking the next undiscovered pop superstar. “It’s really about finding who’s the next Janet Jackson or Justin Timberlake or Usher,” says executive producer Dave Broome. “And we’ll find it from a pool of people who you wouldn’t typically find it from. We’ll go to YMCAs, church groups, local community centers and try to cast the show.” Jackson ’s world tour kicks off Sept. 10 and may showcase the winner of the series.

Young Jeezy is charged with DUI after arrest in Atlanta
Young Jeezy  was pulled over for allegedly driving a vehicle that had no license plate. Cops say he was also found with an open container and no proof of insurance. The rapper was released from the ATL City Detention Center on bond and scheduled for court July 17.

Gary Dourdan is re-hired to “CSI”
After his high-profile drug arrest this past spring, amid rumors that he has a dope problem, Gary Dourdan is expected to return to TV’s “CSI.” The actor pleaded guilty to possession after he was arrested in April while asleep in an illegally parked car in California . “CSI” show execs left questions about whether Dourdan’s planned separation from the show was forced or voluntary. But he’ll return next season, having been re-hired. Dourdan first gained notice on television as a cast member of the 1990s sitcom “A Different World.”