NBA legend Kobe Bryant, his 13-year-old daughter and seven others are dead after their helicopter went down in Southern California.
The chopper crashed Sunday in Calabasas, about 30 miles northwest of downtown Los Angeles.
Authorities said that nine people were aboard the helicopter and presumed dead.
A person familiar with the crash tells The Associated Press that Bryant was among the victims. A second person familiar with the case says Bryant’s 13-year-old daughter Gianna also was killed.
Bryant was an all-time basketball great who won five NBA titles with the Los Angeles Lakers.
Word of Bryant’s death is rocketing around the sports and entertainment worlds, with many stars taking to Twitter to register their shock, disbelief and dismay.
Kobe won the Best Animated Short #AcademyAward for writing & narrating #DearBasketball (music by #JohnWilliams)-It was his heartfelt love-letter to the game that made him a legend & a superstar. It was an honor to present him his much-deserved Oscar.#GoneTooSoon #RIPGiannaBryant pic.twitter.com/ka9raxRYhm
— Mark Hamill (@HamillHimself) January 27, 2020
Kobe’s last game. Legend. pic.twitter.com/caRZebSL3W
— Sami Jarjour (@JarjourSami) January 27, 2020
Just some of Kobe Bryant’s accomplishments.