Kobe Bryant Killed in Fiery CA Helicopter Crash

Kobe Bryant, the retired Los Angeles Lakers great, was killed Sunday in a helicopter crash in Southern California, according to reports. He was 41.

Bryant’s 13-year-old daughter Gianna Maria Onore, known as GiGi, was among the victims.

Nine people are believed to have died in the crash, according to Los Angeles County Sheriff Alex Villanueva.

“There were no survivors. We have a manifest that indicates that there was nine people on board the aircraft – the pilot plus eight individuals,” Villanueva said at a press conference Sunday afternoon.

He declined to name any of the victims, saying the coroner has not made the formal identifications or notified all the appropriate next of kin.

The deaths of the basketball star and his daughter were initially reported by TMZ and confirmed by several outlets, including ESPN.

The crash occurred around 10 a.m. local time in foggy conditions above Calabasas, about 30 miles northwest of Los Angeles, the Los Angeles Times reported.

Bryant was traveling to a basketball game in which his daughter was set to play in when the helicopter went down. Another parent and player were among the victims.

TMZ reported John Altobell, a baseball coach at Orange Coast College, was aboard the aircraft.

The helicopter’s pilot was also killed, according to NBC News.

All five people aboard the chopper were killed. No other information about the victims’ identities was immediately available.

The FAA and NTSB are investigating the crash.

The crash ignited a brush fire, making it difficult for firefighters and emergency personnel to get to the crash site.

Bryant’s wife, Vanessa, was not on board, according to reports. The couple have three other daughters, including a 7-month-old.

Bryant, an 18-time All-Star, won five NBA championships during his 20-year career with the Los Angeles Lakers. He retired as the third-leading score in NBA history in 2016.

Nicknamed “The Black Mamba,” Bryant is regarded as one of the top players in league history because of his all-around game.

Bryant, whose No. 8 and 24 jersey numbers were both retired by the Lakers, lead the league in scoring twice, won the Most Valuable Player award in 2008 and was selected to the NBA’s All-Defensive team 12 times.

“Kobe Bryant was a giant who inspired, amazed, and thrilled people everywhere with his incomparable skill on the court — and awed us with his intellect and humility as a father, husband, creative genius, and ambassador for the game he loved," Los Angeles Mayor Eric Garcetti said in a statement. “He will live forever in the heart of Los Angeles, and will be remembered through the ages as one of our greatest heroes.”

"This is a moment that leaves us struggling to find words that express the magnitude of shock and sorrow we are all feeling right now, and I am keeping Kobe’s entire family in my prayers at this time of unimaginable grief,” the mayor added.

Reactions from Bryant’s friends and admirers came quickly on Twitter after the news broke, and ranged from shock to sadness to disbelief.

With Wire News Services

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