Nine dead in Kobe Bryant helicopter crash in Calabasas
The Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department confirms that nine people have been killed in a helicopter crash involving the basketball great Kobe Bryant. Initial reports suggested there were five people onboard. Sheriff Alex Villanueva says the names of those onboard will not be released until the coroner completes an investigation. 'It would be extremely disrespectful to understand your loved one has perished and you learn about it from TMZ,' Villanueva says at a press conference. 'That is just wholly inappropriate so we are not going to be going there'