Kobe Bryant, Daughter Gianna, Among 9 Dead in Helicopter Crash
UPDATE 01/26/2020 8:44 PM ET: Per ESPN and USA Today, Orange Coast College head baseball coach John Altobelli, his wife, Keri, and daughter Alyssa have been identified as three of the victims of the Calabasas, Calif. helicopter crash that also killed Kobe Bryant and his daughter, Gianna.
It is with the heaviest of hearts that we announce the passing of Orange Coast College head baseball coach John Altobelli. He was a coach, a colleague, a mentor and a friend at OCC for 27 years.
— Orange Coast College (@orangecoast) January 26, 2020
Read our full statement at https://t.co/ttTGWOZKnm pic.twitter.com/ch8ilLHHl4
Update: The Altobelli Family has confirmed that Coach Altobelli's wife, Keri, and daughter, Alyssa, were among those who perished in the helicopter crash that took his life today. Our deepest condolences go out to the family. Our hearts are with you. https://t.co/KmH8CpoTtm
— Orange Coast College (@orangecoast) January 27, 2020
UPDATE 01/26/2020 5:55 PM ET: Los Angeles County Sheriff Alex Villanueva said in a news conference that nine people have died from the helicopter crash including Kobe Bryant and his 13-year-old daughter, Gianna, per The Los Angeles Times and The New York Times.
The identities of the seven other people on board were not announced by Villanueva during the news conference, as their families have not yet been contacted by authorities.
Villanueva said, “It would be extremely disrespectful to understand your loved one has perished and you learn about it from TMZ. That is just wholly inappropriate so we are not going to be going there. We are going to wait until the coroner does their job”
UPDATE 01/26/2020 3:55 PM ET: Kobe Bryant and his 13-year-old daughter, Gianna, have died in a helicopter crash in Calabasas, Calif.
TMZ Sports reports a rep for Bryant confirmed the death of Gianna Maria Onore. The identities of the other three passengers that died in the crash have not been confirmed.
TMZ Sports also reports the helicopter was en route to the Mamba Academy in Thousand Oaks, Calif. for a basketball practice.
ORIGINAL STORY
Gossip site TMZ reported that Kobe Bryant died in a helicopter crash this morning (January 26).
They explain that “Kobe was traveling with at least 3 other people in his private helicopter when it went down. A fire broke out. Emergency personnel responded, but nobody on board survived. 5 people are confirmed dead. We’re told Vanessa Bryant was not among those on board.”
Variety has confirmed that Bryant died in the crash.
The crash happened in Calabasas, California.
TMZ also reports that his wife Vanessa and their four daughters were not on the helicopter at the time of the crash. Kobe was 41 years old.
