Kobe Bryant and his daughter Gianna tragically passed away in a helicopter crash on January 26th in California. Immediately after the crash happened, there was an investigation of the crash site. In these situations, photos are supposed to be reserved for those who are conducting their investigation. However, as we reported a couple of months ago, some deputies took photos of the site and showed them to people close to them. This was a massive invasion of privacy and now, Vanessa Bryant is filing a legal complaint with the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department.

As the legal documents explain, Vanessa is extremely upset that these photos were taken and that the Sheriff’s Department is at fault for the added emotional anguish of the situation.

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“Mrs. Bryant has suffered an immense tragedy by losing her husband and daughter; her grief has been compounded by the severe emotional distress caused by the sheriff’s deputies’ misconduct and the Sheriff’s Department’s mishandling of that misconduct,” the legal documents explain.“Mrs. Bryant is deeply worried that all copies of the sheriff’s deputies’ photos have not been accounted for, and that it is only a matter of time before she or her daughters encounter them on the internet.”

It was also noted that the goal of this legal claim was to make sure other law enforcement agencies hold themselves accountable in the future and that this never happens to someone else.

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A day after it was revealed that four victims in the helicopter crash that took the lives of nine people were identified through fingerprints, the medical examiner’s office has reportedly released a statement sharing that everyone is now accounted for. “Through the use of DNA and fingerprints, the Los Angeles County Department of Medical Examiner-Coroner has identified all nine of the victims who died in a helicopter crash on Sunday,” a statement released Wednesday (January 29) read according to Radar Online.

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“On Tuesday body examinations were performed on all nine decedents,” they continued. “Their causes of death were certified as blunt trauma. The manner of death was certified as an accident.” Kobe Bryant (41), Gianna Maria-Onore Bryant (13), John Altobelli (56), Keri Altobelli (46), Alyssa Altobelli (14), Sarah Chester (45), Payton Chester (13), Christina Mauser (38), and Ara Zobayan (50) all tragically lost their lives in the harrowing crash.

Many of Kobe’s loved ones have come forward to express their deep grief, from his wife Vanessa Bryant who, on Wednesday (January 29), broke her silence about the loss of her husband and daughter, to the basketball stars’ NBA pals who continue to reconcile with his death. TMZ recently spoke with Smush Parker, Kobe’s former Los Angeles Lakers teammate, who regrets the strained relationship they had over the years.

“I was hoping for an opportunity to really sit down or for our paths to cross so we could physically and verbally have a dialogue,” Parker stated. “There was a lot of underhanded shots that were fired from both directions and I just…It’s unfortunate that I’m not gonna be able to get that opportunity now. If I could verbally speak to him, I would verbally apologize to him. Being able to look a man in his eyes and say—take into account his own faults for an issue is the greatest thing a man can do for another man. To look a man in his face and say, you know what, I was wrong and I’m sorry.”

Back in 2009, Smush said in an interview that playing alongside Kobe on the Lakers was an “overrated” experience. Later, Kobe would reportedly say, “Smush Parker was the worst. He shouldn’t have been in the NBA, but we were too cheap to pay for a point guard. We let him walk on.” The verbal jabs left a lasting impact in the division between the former teammates, and it’s something that Smush now wishes he could have reconciled before it was too late. 

Smush reminisced on better times with himself and Kobe before sharing that he hopes to attend the funeral where he can pay his respects to the fallen basketball icon. Watch his clip in full below.

Over the last few days, helicopter safety has become a pressing issue. Following the deaths of Kobe Bryant, his daughter Gianna Maria-Onore Bryant, and seven of their close friends, the investigation has caused many to question if the helicopter accident could have been prevented. Jennifer Homendy, a member of the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB), shared in a press conference on Tuesday (January 28) that the helicopter carrying the nine victims of the Calabasas crash didn’t have a Terrain Awareness and Warning System (TAWS) which reportedly lets pilots know when the aircraft gets too close to the terrain.

 
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She wouldn’t go so far as to say whether or not a TAWS system would have prevented an accident in this specific circumstance, but she stated, “Certainly, TAWS could have helped.” According to a report made by TMZ, Sikorsky, the manufacturer of the helicopter involved in Bryant’s crash, is urging owners of the older S-76 models to add the terrain system. Kobe’s helicopter was made in 1991 and TAWS was an optional feature until 2005.

It was also reported that the basketball icon’s helicopter didn’t have a “black box” flight data recorder, as well, because it wasn’t a standard feature with that older model. TMZ shares that Sikorsky has stated they are “actively supporting the NTSB investigation” and that “Safety is our top priority. If there are any actionable findings from the investigation, we will immediately inform our S-76 customers.”

There have been many tears shed across the globe over the tragic death of Kobe Bryant, his 13-year-old daughter Gianna Maria-Onore Bryant, and their seven friends. The group of nine were killed in a helicopter accident while on their way to the Mamba Sports Academy on Sunday (January 26), and since that time family, friends, and fans of those who lost their lives continue their attempt to reconcile their disbelief while grieving the loss of loved ones.

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You can’t turn on any form of media without being confronted with the news about Kobe Bryant’s death, but even with the somber reports and memories shared by those who were close to him—and those who are grieving the loss of the others involved in the harrowing incident—there are also a select few who want to take this opportunity to help put smiles on the faces of others.

Funny Kobe clips are being circulated throughout social media showing off the NBA legend’s goofy side, and there’s even a chuckle-worthy story about how he made the entire Los Angeles Lakers team take off their Kobe sneakers after a loss because they were playing soft.Metta World Peace, formerly known as Ron Artest, played alongside Kobe in their Lakers glory days and he decided to share a moment with dozens of strangers while out at a restaurant.

In a clip being shared around social media, Metta buys the entire restaurant a round of drinks before sharing a quick word about his fallen friend at 8:24 p.m. “I don’t know if you’re from here or not,” Metta began. “I was his teammate and I decided to call my friend Pete and [go for a drink]. I just thought it’d be a great thing to share this moment with us because it hurt a lot of people so, cheers to Kobe.” Everyone lifted their glass for the basketball icon and those who lost their lives in the tragic accident. Check it out below.