Kobe Bryant helicopter crash: What we know about the victims
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By Michelle Ewing, Cox Media Group National Content Desk
CALABASAS, Calif. — NBA icon Kobe Bryant and his 13-year-old daughter, Gianna, aka Gigi, were among nine people killed in a Southern California helicopter crash Sunday.
Kobe Bryant memorials Orlando Magic fans hold up signs honoring Kobe Bryant during the first quarter of an NBA basketball game against the Los Angeles Clippers in Orlando, Fla., Sunday, Jan. 26, 2020. (AP Photo/Reinhold Matay)
Kobe Bryant memorials Candles spell "Kobe" and "Gigi" at a memorial near Staples Center after the death of Los Angeles Laker legend Kobe Bryant, Sunday, Jan. 26, 2020, in Los Angeles. (AP Photo/Michael Owen Baker)
Kobe Bryant memorials Bryan Stange, right, stands with his family holding a sign near the scene of a helicopter crash that killed former NBA basketball player Kobe Bryant in Calabasas, Calif., Sunday, Jan. 26, 2020. (AP Photo/Kelvin Kuo)
Kobe Bryant memorials A tribute to Kobe Bryant was shown on the screen before the start of an NBA basketball game between the Orlando Magic and the Los Angeles Clippers in Orlando, Fla., Sunday, Jan. 26, 2020. (AP Photo/Reinhold Matay)
Kobe Bryant memorials YG, from left, John Legend, Kirk Franklin, DJ Khaled and Meek Mill point to a screen showing Nipsey Hussle and Kobe Bryant during a tribute at the 62nd annual Grammy Awards on Sunday, Jan. 26, 2020, in Los Angeles. (Photo by Matt Sayles/Invision/AP)
Kobe Bryant memorials A memorial near Staples Center after the death of Laker legend Kobe Bryant Sunday, Jan. 26, 2020, in Los Angeles. (AP Photo/Michael Owen Baker)
Kobe Bryant memorials Orange Coast College students and friends of baseball coach John Altobelli lay flowers at home plate at the Orange Coast College baseball field in Costa Mesa on Sunday, Jan. 26, 2020. Coach Altobelli, his wife Keri and daughter Alyssa were killed in the helicopter crash that also killed former Lakers star Kobe Bryant. (Leonard Ortiz/The Orange County Register via AP)
Kobe Bryant memorials A makeshift memorial was created on home plate Orange Coast College baseball field in Costa Mesa, Calif. on Sunday, Jan. 26, 2020 for Orange Coast College baseball Coach Altobelli, his wife Keri and daughter Alyssa who were killed in the helicopter crash that also killed former Lakers star Kobe Bryant. (Leonard Ortiz/The Orange County Register via AP)
Kobe Bryant memorials Fans honor the memory of Kobe Bryant with a moment of silence before an NBA basketball game between the Orlando Magic and the Los Angeles Clippers in Orlando, Fla., Sunday, Jan. 26, 2020. (AP Photo/Reinhold Matay)
Kobe Bryant memorials Fans mourn the loss of Kobe Bryant in front of La Live across from Staples Center, home of the Los Angeles Lakers in Los Angeles on Sunday, Jan, 26, 2020. Bryant, the 18-time NBA All-Star who won five championships and became one of the greatest basketball players of his generation during a 20-year career with the Lakers, died in a helicopter crash Sunday. (Keith Birmingham/The Orange County Register via AP)
Kobe Bryant memorials Fans hold up signs in memory of Kobe Bryant, who was killed in a helicopter crash in California, during the second half of an NBA basketball game between the Portland Trail Blazers and the Indiana Pacers in Portland, Ore., Sunday, Jan. 26, 2020. The Blazers won 139-129. (AP Photo/Steve Dykes)
Kobe Bryant memorials Fans of Kobe Bryant mourn at a sidewalk memorial at LALive area across from Staples Center, home of the Los Angeles Lakers, after word of the Lakers star's death in a helicopter crash, in downtown Los Angeles Sunday, Jan. 26, 2020. (AP Photo/Matt Hartman)
Kobe Bryant memorials Alicia Keys, second left, and members of Boys II Men, from left, Nathan Morris, Wanya Morris and Shawn Stockman, sing "It's So Hard to Say Goodbye to Yesterday" during a tribute to the late Kobe Bryant, seen on screen, at the 62nd annual Grammy Awards on Sunday, Jan. 26, 2020, in Los Angeles. (Photo by Matt Sayles/Invision/AP)
The passengers were headed to a basketball game featuring Gianna’s Mamba Academy team and Bryant as coach, according to CNN.
Although police have not released the victims’ names, news outlets have identified the seven others who died in the incident. Here is what we know about them:
John, Keri and Alyssa Altobelli
Orange Coast College released a statement confirming that head baseball coach John Altobelli, 56; his wife, Keri; and daughter, Alyssa, had died in Sunday’s crash.
“It is with the heaviest of hearts that we announce the passing of Orange Coast College head baseball coach John Altobelli,” the statement began. “He was a coach, a colleague, a mentor and a friend at OCC for 27 years.”
The college’s president, Angelica Suarez, said the community’s “hearts are broken.”
“Coach Altobelli was a giant on our campus – a beloved teacher, coach, colleague and friend," her statement read. “This is a tremendous loss for our campus community.”
Alyssa and Gianna were on the same basketball team, CNN reported.
Christina Mauser
An assistant basketball coach at a Southern California private school was on board the helicopter, as well, CNN reported.
Christina Mauser, who worked at Harbor Day School, leaves behind her husband, Matt, and their children.”My kids and I are devastated," Matt Mauser wrote in a Facebook post. “We lost our beautiful wife and mom today in a helicopter crash. Please respect our privacy. Thank you for all the well wishes they mean so much.”
Sarah and Payton Chester
Two other crash victims were identified as Sarah and Payton Chester, KCBS reported.
The school’s principal, Todd Schmidt, paid tribute to the pair in a Facebook post.
“As a principal, we work with some amazing families...the Chesters were one of those...engaged, supportive, encouraging, and full of mischief and laughter...and they had the best kiddos!” he wrote.
Ara Zobayan
Ara Zobayan, the helicopter’s “instrument-rated pilot,” also died in the crash, KSWB reported.
Kobe Bryant crash Former Los Angeles Laker Kobe Bryant and his daughter Gianna Bryant attend an NBA basketball game between the Los Angeles Lakers and Dallas Mavericks Sunday, Dec. 29, 2019, in Los Angeles. (AP Photo/Michael Owen Baker)