BREAKING: Former LA Lakers star Kobe Bryant dead after helicopter crash

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Brendan Murphy, Staff Writer

UPDATE: The LA County Sheriff’s Department announced in a press conference that there were nine passengers onboard the helicopter when it crashed. The identity of the other seven passengers is still unknown.

Legendary Los Angeles Lakers player Kobe Bryant has died in a helicopter crash in California. The news has been confirmed by major media outlets, including CNN, ESPN and NBC Sports, among others at the time of publishing.

Bryant was one of the most decorated players in National Basketball Association (NBA) History. The 18-time all-star and 2008 NBA Most Valuable Player ranks fourth on the NBA’s all-time scoring list with 33,643 points and won five NBA Championships with the Lakers.

TMZ originally reported the news at about 2:30 p.m. EST and within moments, the story was trending on Twitter as people scrambled to confirm it. Bryant and at least four other people were traveling in Bryant’s private helicopter near Calabasas when it crashed and a fire broke out.

ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski has reported that Bryant’s 13-year-old daughter Gianna was one of the other victims of the crash. TMZ confirmed the report with Bryant’s representatives.

Bryant was 41 years old.

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