Vanessa Bryant 'absolutely devastated' by report deputies shared photos of Kobe Bryant crash

An attorney for Vanessa Bryant said she is "absolutely devastated" by allegations that Los Angeles County sheriff's deputies shared graphic photos from the scene of the helicopter crash that killed her husband, Kobe Bryant, their daughter Gianna Bryant, and seven others in January.

The Los Angeles Times reported last week that the photos showed the crash scene and victims' remains, and first responders were talking about the pictures in the days after the accident. Vanessa Bryant's attorney, Gary Robb, released a statement Sunday saying if the report is accurate, this is an "unspeakable violation of human decency, respect, and of the privacy rights of the victims and their families," and anyone involved must "face the harshest possible discipline."

Robb said that on the day of the crash, Bryant asked the sheriff's department to enact a no-fly zone around the crash scene. "This was of critical important to her as she desired to protect the dignity of all the victims and their families," he said, adding that Sheriff Alex Villanueva "assured us all measures would be put in place to protect the families' privacy, and it is our understanding that he has worked hard to honor those requests." The Los Angeles County Sheriff's Office launched an investigation on Friday, saying Villanueva is "deeply disturbed at the thought deputies could allegedly engage in such an insensitive act."

Subscribe to The Week

Escape your echo chamber. Get the facts behind the news, plus analysis from multiple perspectives.

SUBSCRIBE & SAVE

Sign up for The Week's Free Newsletters

From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.

From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.

Sign up