The Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department is investigating reports that its deputies leaked graphic photos of the crash that killed former NBA star Kobe Bryant, his daughter, and seven other people.
Patti Giggans, the head of the Sheriff Civilian Oversight Commission, told the paper Friday that the alleged behavior is “completely unprofessional” and “very regrettable.”
“Hopefully we’ll hear more, what was going on and how they found out,” she said. “At this point, we have to trust that the sheriff is going to get to the bottom of it.”
Bryant’s helicopter crashed into a hill in Calabasas, California, during poor weather conditions. The crash killed Bryant and his 13-year-old daughter, Gianna, and seven others including Christina Mauser; Payton and Sarah Chester; Keri and Alyssa Altobelli; and pilot Ara Zobayan.
Bryant’s wife, Vanessa, filed a wrongful death lawsuit against the company that operated the helicopter.
Bryant is asking for punitive damages, although the exact amount wasn’t disclosed in the suit. Island Express hasn’t issued a response to the lawsuit, and Island Express declined to comment on the litigation when contacted by a Reuters reported.
The Feb. 24 complaint was filed in Los Angeles County Superior Court against Island Express Helicopters and Island Express Holding Corp., accusing the pilot of failing to “use ordinary care in piloting the subject aircraft.”
Kobe and Gigi Bryant were both honored during a memorial service at the Staples Center in Los Angeles on Feb. 23.
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