The Los Angeles sheriff’s department has launched an investigation into whether or not officers shared graphic photographs from the scene of the helicopter crash that killed Kobe Bryant, his daughter, and seven others.
Photos of the scene were reportedly seen on officials’ smartphones and showed to others in a setting completely separate from the investigation of the incident, according to the Los Angeles Times. However, it is unclear if the photographs were shot by first responders at the scene or others.
“We’re looking into the situation,” Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department spokeswoman Deputy Grace Medrano said on Friday.
“Hopefully, we’ll hear more — what was going on and how they found out,” Patti Giggans, chairwoman of the Sheriff Civilian Oversight Commission, said. “At this point, we have to trust that the sheriff is going to get to the bottom of it.”
Bryant, an NBA and Los Angeles Lakers legend, and his 13-year-old daughter Gianna were killed while traveling with seven others to a youth basketball game after a helicopter crashed at high speed in a mountainous, foggy area in California last month. His widow Vanessa Bryant filed a wrongful death lawsuit against the company that operated the helicopter, claiming the pilot was “negligent” and did not “use ordinary care in piloting the subject aircraft.”
“Defendant Island Express Helicopters’ breach of its duty and negligence caused the injuries and damages complained of herein and Plaintiffs’ deceased, Kobe Bryant, was killed as a direct result of the negligent conduct of Zobayan for which Defendant Island Express Helicopters is vicariously liable in all respects,” the lawsuit said.
