Kobe Bryant and daughter Gianna were on a helicopter that crashed into the hills in Calabasas, California on Sunday morning, killing nine people. There was initial confusion about whether or not other members of Bryant’s family were aboard the helicopter and also died in the crash, but that has been cleared up.
ESPN’s Adam Schefter reported later Sunday that Bryant’s wife Vanessa, and daughters/sisters Natalia (17), Bianka (3) and Capri were NOT on the helicopter and are still alive.
Kobe and Gianna Bryant leave behind wife and mother Vanessa, and daughters and sisters Natalia, 17, Bianka, 3, and Capri, who was born last summer.
— Adam Schefter (@AdamSchefter) January 27, 2020
The loss is crushing for the family. Three girls will now grow up without their father, and Vanessa will spend the rest of her life without her husband.
But after a reporter earlier in the day said all four of Kobe’s daughters were in the crash, this news comes as a relief to Bryant’s fans and those who followed the story closely.
Unfortunately, this news does not decrease the death total; seven other people still died in the crash, leaving sadness for many families, and holes in their lives.
Three of the other victims include junior college baseball coach John Altobelli, whose daughter Alyssa played on the Mamba team. Alyssa and John’s wife Keri also died in the crash, according to ESPN’s Jeff Passan and CNN.
Christina Mauser, a coach, was one of the other people in the crash.
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Other victims of the helicopter crash:
– John Altobelli, junior college baseball coach, also died in helicopter crash
– Christina Mauser, girls’ basketball coach, among the helicopter crash victims
Tributes to Kobe:
– Dallas Mavericks retire Kobe Bryant’s No. 24 jersey
– Video: Raptors, Spurs start game with amazing tribute to Kobe Bryant
– Shaq posts heartfelt tribute to Kobe Bryant
– Michael Jordan releases statement on death of ‘little brother’ Kobe Bryant
– Video: Doc Rivers breaks down crying talking about Kobe Bryant
– Phil Jackson calls Kobe Bryant ‘a chosen one’ in statement on his death
– NBA commissioner Adam Silver issues statement on death of Kobe Bryant
– Video: Dwyane Wade posts emotional message reacting to Kobe Bryant’s death
– Kendrick Perkins extends olive branch to Kevin Durant after Kobe Bryant’s death
– Video: Emotional Mike Breen sums up NBA world’s emotions about Kobe Bryant’s death
– Trae Young’s huge game was full of Kobe Bryant-related statistical coincidences
More coverage:
– Media errors, rumors, poor judgment run rampant in reporting of Kobe Bryant news
– Kobe Bryant checked in on Shaq’s son Shareef morning of helicopter crash
– No, Rick Fox did not die in helicopter crash that killed Kobe, Gianna Bryant
– Lakers fans start memorial to Kobe Bryant outside Staples Center
– Kobe Bryant’s last tweet was congratulating LeBron James on passing him
– Sports world stunned over Kobe Bryant news
– Kobe Bryant dies in helicopter crash – dead at 41
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