Kobe Bryant dies in helicopter crash in California

Five-time NBA champion Kobe Bryant and his 13-year-old daughter Gianna died in a helicopter crash Sunday morning in California, according to TMZ. He was 41.

At a press conference Sunday, LA County Sheriff’s Department confirmed the crash and said the flight manifest listed nine people on board Bryant’s helicopter when it took off.

Among those killed were John Altobelli, head coach of Southern California’s Orange Coast College baseball team, his wife, Keri, and daughter, Alyssa, who played on the same team as Bryant’s daughter, said his brother, Tony, who is the sports information director at the school.

Authorities will wait for the coroner’s report to announce more information.

Bryant, a star for the Los Angeles Lakers for two decades, had been known to use a private helicopter to travel. During his playing days, he used a Sikorsky S-76 helicopter to commute from his Newport Beach home to the Staples Center.

AP

After making his NBA debut in 1996, Bryant racked up countless accolades as one of the most successful players in basketball history. In addition to his five titles with the Lakers, he was an 18-time All-Star, 15-time All-NBA team member and two-time Olympic gold medalist. Both of the numbers he wore – No. 8 and No. 24 – are retired in Los Angeles.

In this photo taken on November 18, 2009 Basketball player Kobe Bryant arrives for the 2009 “Men Of The Year” party at Chateau Marmont in Los Angeles, California. | ROBYN BECK/AFP via Getty Images)

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Kobe Bryant #24 of the Los Angeles Lakers address the media during the post game news conference after scoring 60 point in his final NBA game at Staples Center on April 13, 2016 in Los Angeles, California. | ROBYN BECK/AFP via Getty Images)

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Kobe Bryant speaks to the media at a press conference before his #8 and #24 jerseys are retired by the Los Angeles Lakers at Staples Center on December 18, 2017 in Los Angeles, California. | Harry How/Getty Images

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Lakers guard Kobe Bryant seems to be in a good mood near the end of the game as he scored 42 points in the Lakers 96-87 win over the Bulls. | Tom Cruze/Sun-Times

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Kobe Bryant #24 of the Los Angeles Lakers drives against Luol Deng #9 of the Chicago Bulls in the first quarter during the game on November 19, 2009 at Staples Center in Los Angeles, California. | Harry How/Getty Images

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Kobe Bryant #24 of the Los Angeles Lakers dunks the ball with his left hand in the lane in the third quarter against the New Orleans Hornets in Game Five of the Western Conference Quarterfinals in the 2011 NBA Playoffs on April 26, 2011 at Staples Center in Los Angeles, California. | Harry How/Getty Images

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In this photo taken on July 21, 2009 US Baskeball player Kobe Bryant of the Los Angeles Lakers waves to fans as he arrives for a charity event as part of his Asian tour in Manila. | TED ALJIBE/AFP via Getty Images

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Vanessa Bryant, from left, Kobe Bryant, Natalia Bryant and Gianna Maria-Onore Bryant at the world premiere of “A Wrinkle in Time” in Los Angeles. | Jordan Strauss/Invision/AP

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Kobe Bryant, 17, jokes with the media as he holds his Los Angeles Lakers jersey during a news conference at the Great Western Forum in Inglewood, Calif. | AP Photo/Susan Sterner

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Kobe Bryant of the Los Angeles Lakers celebrates victory following Game 5 of the NBA Finals against the Orlando Magic at Amway Arena in Orlando, Florida. | EMMANUEL DUNAND/AFP via Getty Images

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In this photo taken on June 17, 2009 Los Angeles Lakers player Kobe Bryant celebrates during a victory parade at the Coliseum stadium in Los Angeles after defeating the Orlando Magic in the NBA final series. | MARK RALSTON/AFP via Getty Images

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In this photo taken on June 14, 2009 Kobe Bryant of the Los Angeles Lakers smiles on court in the closing moments of Game 5 in the NBA Finals against the Orlando Magic at Amway Arena in Orlando, Florida. | STAN HONDA/AFP via Getty Images

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In this photo taken on June 16, 2009 Kobe Bryant of the Los Angeles Lakers celebrates on court moments before the end of Game 5 in the NBA Finals against the Orlando Magic at Amway Arena in Orlando, Florida. | EMMANUEL DUNAND/AFP via Getty Images

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In this photo taken on June 07, 2009 Kobe Bryant of the Los Angeles Lakers celebrates after winning game two of the NBA finals against the Orlando Magic at the Staples Center in Los Angeles. | MARK RALSTON/AFP via Getty Images

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In this photo taken on August 24, 2008 (L to R) USA’s Kobe Bryant and USA’s Dwyane Wade bite their medals on the podium after the men’s basketball gold medal match of the Beijing 2008 Olympic Games at the Olympic basketball Arena in Beijing | FILIPPO MONTEFORTE/AFP via Getty Images

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In this photo taken on August 24, 2008 USA’s Kobe Bryant celebrates at the end of the men’s basketball gold medal match Spain against The US of the Beijing 2008 Olympic Games at the Olympic basketball Arena in Beijing. | FILIPPO MONTEFORTE/AFP via Getty Images

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In this photo taken on June 17, 2010 Los Angeles Lakers MVP Kobe Bryant holds the team and MVP trophies after the Lakers defeated the Boston Celtics in Game 7 of the 2010 NBA Finals to clinch the Championship at Staples Center in Los Angeles, California. | PAUL J. RICHARDS/AFP via Getty Images

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Kobe Bryant (L) of the LA Lakers is ensnared in heavy traffic with J.J. Barea (C) and Luke Ridnour (R) of the Minnesota Timberwolves during their NBA game in Los Angeles, California. | FREDERIC J. BROWN/AFP via Getty Images

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Michael Jordan keeps a close guard on kobe Bryant during Wednesday night game action against the Lakers.. | JON SALL/SUN-TIMES

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12/17/97 Bulls Vs Lakers- Chicago Bulls No. 23 Michael Jordan and Los Angeles Lakers No. 8 Kobe Bryant battle in the first half. | Jon Sall/Sun-Times

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12-15-2009----Chicago Bulls host the LA Lakers—Bulls forward John Salmons defends Lakers guard Kobe Bryant as he drives to the basket in the 2nd quarter. | Tom Cruze/Sun-Times

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12-15-2009----Chicago Bulls host the LA Lakers—Bulls forward Joakim Noah gets a hand in the face of Lakers guard Kobe Bryant as he passes in the lane in the 2nd quarter. | Tom Cruze/Sun-Times

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12-15-2009----Chicago Bulls host the LA Lakers—Bulls forward John Salmons defends Lakers guard Kobe Bryant as he drives to the basket in the 2nd quarter. | Tom Cruze/Sun-Times

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12-15-2009----Chicago Bulls host the LA Lakers—Bulls forward Joakim Noah redirects a shot attempt by Lakers guard Kobe Bryant in the 3rd quarter | Tom Cruze/Sun-Times

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12-15-2009----Chicago Bulls host the LA Lakers—Bulls forward Joakim Noah spreads his arms as he defends against Lakers guard Kobe Bryant in the 2nd half. | Tom Cruze/Sun-Times

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Los Angeles Lakers guard Kobe Bryant (24) puts up a shot against Chicago Bulls center Joakim Noah (13), forward Luol Deng (9), guard Ronnie Brewer (11) and forward Taj Gibson as time expires in the second half of their NBA basketball game, Sunday, Dec. 25, 2011, in Los Angeles. Bryant’s shot was blocked and the Bulls won 88-87. | AP Photo/Mark J. Terrill

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Lakers guard Kobe Bryant passes the ball in the first quarter of the Chicago Bulls-Los Angeles Lakers NBA game Monday January 21, 2013 at the United Center. | Tom Cruze/Sun-Times

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Lakers guard Kobe Bryant drives on Bulls center Nazr Mohammed in the second half of the Chicago Bulls 95-83 win over the Los Angeles Lakers Monday January 21, 2013 at the United Center. | Tom Cruze~Sun-Times

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Tom Cruze~Sun-Times

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Los Angeles Lakers shooting guard Kobe Bryant, left, drives to the basket against Chicago Bulls small forward Luol Deng during the second half of their NBA basketball game in Los Angeles, Tuesday, Nov. 23, 2010. The Lakers won 98-91. | AP Photo/Jae C. Hong

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Los Angeles Lakers guard Kobe Bryant, left, tries to block a pass to Chicago Bulls center Joakim Noah during the second half of their NBA basketball game, Thursday, Nov. 19, 2009, in Los Angeles. | AP Photo/Mark J. Terrill)

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Los Angeles Lakers’ Kobe Bryant and Chicago Bulls’ Derrick Rose exchange words after the end of their NBA basketball game Tuesday, Dec. 15, 2009, in Chicago. The Lakers defeated the Bulls 96-87. | AP Photo/Jim Prisching

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Los Angeles Lakers’ Kobe Bryant drives around the Chicago Bulls’ Joakim Noah during the first half of an NBA basketball game Tuesday, Dec. 15, 2009, in Chicago. | AP Photo/Jim Prisching

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Chicago Bulls’ Michael Jordan, playing for the East All-Stars, battles Los Angeles Lakers’ Kobe Bryant for possession of the ball during the NBA All-Star game at New York’s Madison Square Garden on Sunday, Feb. 8, 1998. Orlando Magic’s Anfernee Hardaway watches at right. | AP Photo/Bill Kostroun

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Chicago Bulls’ Michael Jordan, playing for the East All-Stars, drives in between Los Angeles Lakers’ Kobe Bryant (8) and Utah Jazz’ Karl Malone, right, during the second half of the NBA All-Star game at New York’s Madison Square Garden on Sunday, Feb. 8, 1998. Atlanta Hawks’ Dikembe Mutombo watches at left. Jordan was selected as the games Most Valuable Player. | AP Photo/Mark Lennihan

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Los Angeles Lakers’ Kobe Bryant, playing for the West All-Stars, is blocked by Chicago Bulls’ Michael Jordan during the NBA All-Star game at New York’s Madison Square Garden on Sunday, Feb. 8, 1998. The East beat the West All-Stars 135-114. | AP Photo/Mark Lennihan

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In this Nov. 26, 2013 photo Los Angeles Lakers guard Kobe Bryant smiles during a media availability before an NBA basketball game against the Washington Wizards in Washington. The Retired NBA superstar has died in helicopter crash in Southern California, Sunday, Jan. 26, 2020. | AP Photo/Alex Brandon

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The Associated Press contributed to this report.