LIVE IN CALABASAS, CA. NOW. - GS.

 

CALABASAS, CA — Los Angeles Lakers legend Kobe Bryant was killed along with his daughter and two other people in a helicopter crash into a hillside near Malibu Sunday morning, according to reports. Bryant was 41 years old.
Bryant was headed to a travel basketball game with his daughter, Gianna, 13, ESPN reported. Another player and parent were reportedly on board, although authorities have confirmed only Kobe Bryant's death.
None of the five people on board the helicopter survived the crash, which was called in at 9:47 a.m. on the 4200 block of Las Virgenes Road, according to officials.
Bryant played 20 seasons with the Lakers, becoming an icon in Los Angeles and leading the team to five NBA titles. He retired in 2016, and now ranks as the fourth-leading scorer in league history.
Bryant's death, along with the four others, was confirmed by the City of Calabasas, who said nobody on the ground was hurt. The crash is under investigation by the FAA and NTSB. The cause of the crash was not immediately clear, but conditions were foggy in the Calabasas hills Sunday morning, the Los Angeles Times reported.
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As news of Kobe Bryant's sudden death quickly spread on Sunday, the sports community came together to share messages of shock and sadness.
"Words can't even come close to describing it. Just an incredibly sad and tragic day," Scottie Pippen wrote on Twitter.
NBA owner Mark Cuban also joined countless others in expressing their feelings over the basketball legend's unexpected death.
"Damn. RIP Mamba. May your memory be a blessing," Cuban wrote, referencing Bryant's nickname, "Black Mamba."
The helicopter was described as a Sikorsky S-76. A fire was ignited on the hillside but was later extinguished, the sheriff's department said.
Just yesterday, Bryant was passed by LeBron James for third place on the NBA's all-time scoring list.
"Continuing to move the game forward," Bryant tweeted at James, in congratulations.