Lakers legend Kobe Bryant was killed in a helicopter crash in Calabasas, California on Sunday morning. He was 41.
Bryant and eight others were killed when his private Sikorsky S-76 helicopter crashed near Las Virgenes Road and Willow Glen St. at around 10 a.m. local time.
The crash occurred behind the home of reality TV personality Kourtney Kardashian.
Firefighters and police responded to the area where the helicopter went down after a fire broke out.
Aerial images shows the smoldering wreckage on a hillside near a roadway. Nearly a dozen emergency vehicles parked on the road nearby.
Bryant’s death came one day after his NBA all-time scoring record was passed by Lakers forward LeBron James (left). Bryant is now #4 on the all-time scoring list behind James.
James 35, had written “Mamba 4 Life” and “8/24 KB” on his sneakers in gold ink to show respect for Bryant before the Lakers’ 108-91 loss to the Philadelphia 76ers on Saturday night.
The Philadelphia native spent his entire 20-year career with the Los Angeles Lakers, winning 5 NBA championships and 18 All-Star titles before retiring in 2016.
Bryant often used his private helicopter to ferry him and his family between Newport Beach to the Staples Center for Lakers games.
Bryant is survived by his wife Vanessa Bryant and their four daughters – Gianna, Natalia, Bianca and toddler Capri.
The cause of the crash is under investigation.
