Atlanta, GA
Tyler Perry Studios President Dies In FL Plane Crash: Reports
CITRUS COUNTY, FL — Steve Mensch, the president of Atlanta-based Tyler Perry Studios, died when a small plane he was piloting Friday night crashed in Florida, according to multiple reports.
The 62-year-old studio executive’s plane crashed in Citrus County on West White Dogwood Drive near the intersection of U.S. 98 in the Homosassa area just after 8 p.m., the Florida Highway Patrol said in a news release.
The pilot, who FHP didn’t identify, was pronounced dead at the scene. Photos of the plane provided by the agency show that it landed upside down on the road.
The crash shut down a section of U.S. 19 for several hours during the Friday night investigation, the Citrus County Sheriff’s Office wrote in a Facebook post. The highway was closed in the area of Longfellow Street until about 2:30 a.m.
Tyler Perry Studios confirmed that Mensch, who also serves as general manager, was piloting the plane.
“We are incredibly saddened by the passing of our dear friend Steve Mensch,” the studio said in a statement provided to Pasco News. “Steve was a cherished member of our team for more than eight years and well-beloved in the community of Atlanta. It’s hard to imagine not seeing him smiling throughout the halls. We will miss him dearly. Our heart goes out to his family as we all send them our prayers.”
Mensch, the plane’s only passenger, was flying a single-engine Vans RV-12IS, which was registered to his Fayetteville home, which is in an Atlanta suburb, according to the Citrus County Chronicle.
He joined Tyler Perrio Studios in 2016, not long after the company bought the 330-acre former Fort McPherson Army Base in Atlanta, reports said. He oversaw the conversion of the property into a film and TV production lot. It’s one of the largest in the U.S.
He got his start in the entertainment business working for Feature Systems, which provides equipment to production companies, and was later hired by Atlanta-based Turner Broadcasting.
Before joining Perry’s studio, he served as president of another Georgia-based entertainment company, Third Rail Studios, the Los Angeles Times reported.
Mensch is also known for his work advocating for Georgia’s film tax credit, which brings in more than $1 billion a year and helped transform the state into one of the most active places for film and TV production in the country, reports said.
Gov. Brian Kemp mourned the studio executive’s death in a social media post.
“A good man and an instrumental part of a studio Georgia is proud to call its own, his achievements made our state better and brought more opportunities to its people,” he wrote in a statement posted to X, formerly Twitter. “His loved ones and the entire Tyler Perry Studios team will be in our thoughts and prayers as they mourn this loss.”
The Federal Aviation Administration and the National Transportation Safety Board are investigating the crash.
Atlanta, GA
Philadelphia Phillies lose fifth straight game to end homestand, swept by Atlanta Braves
Michael Harris II homered and had three hits as the streaking Atlanta Braves defeated the slumping Philadelphia Phillies 4-2 on Sunday night to complete a three-game sweep of their NL East rivals.
Ozzie Albies hit an RBI double and Austin Riley also drove in a run for the Braves, who have won five in a row and nine of 11. It was Atlanta’s first series sweep of at least three games at Philadelphia in 10 years.
Kyle Schwarber went deep for the Phillies, who have lost five straight and 10 of 13. They were outscored 56-33 on a 2-7 homestand against the Diamondbacks, Cubs and Braves, leaving Philadelphia 6 1/2 games behind first-place Atlanta in the division standings.
Raisel Iglesias escaped trouble in the ninth inning for his fifth save. Philadelphia put runners on first and second with one out, but Trea Turner struck out and Schwarber lined out to right field on an excellent running catch by Ronald Acuña Jr.
Tyler Kinley (3-0) pitched a scoreless sixth for the win.
Schwarber’s two-run shot in the first gave Philadelphia a 2-0 lead.
Harris homered leading off the third before the Braves went ahead in the fifth with three runs against rookie starter Andrew Painter (1-1) and lefty reliever Tim Mayza.
Painter was lifted after he opened the inning by allowing singles to Harris and Acuña. Mayza loaded the bases with a walk, and the Braves tied the game on Matt Olson’s groundout. Riley’s dribbler to third went for an RBI infield single, and Albies’ double to the left-field wall made it 4-2.
Riley saved at least one run while ending a Philadelphia threat in the bottom of the fifth with a stellar defensive play at third base.
Braves starter Grant Holmes allowed two runs in 4 2/3 innings.
On a chilly night, Phillies catcher J.T. Realmuto sat out after leaving Saturday’s game with lower back tightness.
Up next
Braves: Begin a four-game series Monday night at Washington. RHP Bryce Elder (2-1, 0.77 ERA) opposes Nationals RHP Jake Irvin (1-2, 6.16).
Phillies: Open seven-game trip Monday night with the first of four games against the Cubs. RHP Aaron Nola (1-4, 4.03 ERA) faces Chicago RHP Colin Rea (2-0, 3.63).
Atlanta Hawks (46-36, sixth in the Eastern Conference) vs. New York Knicks (53-29, third in the Eastern Conference)
New York; Monday, 8 p.m. EDT
LINE: Knicks -5.5; over/under is 216.5
EASTERN CONFERENCE FIRST ROUND: Knicks lead series 1-0
BOTTOM LINE: The New York Knicks host the Atlanta Hawks in the Eastern Conference first round with a 1-0 lead in the series. The Knicks won the last matchup 113-102 on Saturday, led by 28 points from Jalen Brunson. CJ McCollum led the Hawks with 26.
The Knicks are 35-17 in Eastern Conference games. New York has a 9-4 record in one-possession games.
The Hawks are 27-25 in Eastern Conference play. Atlanta is third in the league scoring 18.1 fast break points per game. McCollum leads the Hawks averaging 5.0.
The Knicks are shooting 47.8% from the field this season, 0.4 percentage points higher than the 47.4% the Hawks allow to opponents. The Hawks are shooting 47.4% from the field, 1.4% higher than the 46.0% the Knicks’ opponents have shot this season.
TOP PERFORMERS: Karl-Anthony Towns is averaging 20.1 points and 11.9 rebounds for the Knicks. Brunson is averaging 19.9 points over the last 10 games.
Dyson Daniels is scoring 11.9 points per game and averaging 6.8 rebounds for the Hawks. Nickeil Alexander-Walker is averaging 21.3 points and 2.9 rebounds over the last 10 games.
LAST 10 GAMES: Knicks: 6-4, averaging 110.4 points, 40.7 rebounds, 26.2 assists, 8.4 steals and 3.3 blocks per game while shooting 49.4% from the field. Their opponents have averaged 106.9 points per game.
Hawks: 5-5, averaging 117.2 points, 43.5 rebounds, 27.7 assists, 8.4 steals and 4.7 blocks per game while shooting 47.2% from the field. Their opponents have averaged 112.0 points.
INJURIES: Knicks: Tyler Kolek: day to day (oblique), Mitchell Robinson: day to day (ankle), Karl-Anthony Towns: day to day (elbow).
Hawks: Jock Landale: out (ankle).
___
The Associated Press created this story using technology provided by Data Skrive and data from Sportradar.
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