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Los Angeles County Sheriff Alex Villanueva has said eight deputies have admitted possessing photos of Kobe Bryant’s helicopter crash site.

The sheriff said he was “devastated and heartbroken” by the conduct of those responsible.

He told media on March 2 that the deputies involved had deleted the images on his direction.

Kobe Bryant and his 13-year-old daughter Gianna were among nine who died in the crash on January 26.

The basketball legend was a five-time NBA champion for his only team, the Los Angeles Lakers, and a double Olympic gold medalist. After a 20-year career with the team Kobe Bryant retired in April 2016.

The circulation of photos from the crash site and victims’ remains was first reported by the Los Angeles Times last week.

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In response to the report, Vanessa Bryant, Kobe’s wife, said she was “absolutely devastated” by the “inexcusable and deplorable” actions of first responders.

A lawyer for Vanessa Bryant said Alex Villanueva had assured her that “all measures would be put in place to protect the families’ privacy”.

The lawyer’s statement said: “This is an unspeakable violation of human decency, respect, and of the privacy rights of the victims and their families.

“We are demanding that those responsible for these alleged actions face the harshest possible discipline, and that their identities be brought to light, to ensure that the photos are not further disseminated.”

In an interview with NBC News, Sheriff Villanueva said the photos were brought to his attention by someone who had overheard a trainee deputy discussing them at a bar.

He said: “That was my number one priority, to make sure those photos no longer exist.

“We identified the deputies involved, they came to the station on their own and had admitted they had taken them and they had deleted them. And we’re content that those involved did that.”

He also told KABC-TV that the deputies were under investigation and could face disciplinary action.

Only personnel from the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) and the coroner’s office were authorized to take photos of the crash scene, Alex Villanueva said.

According to NBC News, at least two LA County Fire Department firefighters also took photos and were ordered to delete them.

The cause of the crash in foggy weather west of Los Angeles, California, is still being investigated.

Kobe Bryant was on his way to coach his daughter Gianna’s basketball team in a local youth tournament at the Mamba Sports Academy.

Lawyers for Vanessa Bryant have filed a lawsuit against the company that operated the helicopter, accusing the pilot of negligence.

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Vanessa Bryant, the widow of NBA legend Kobe Bryant, is suing the owner of the helicopter that crashed last month, killing her husband and 13-year-old daughter, Gianna.

Kobe Bryant, Gianna and seven others died when the helicopter they were in crashed in fog on January 26.

In the lawsuit, Vanessa Bryant says the pilot was negligent for flying in such poor weather.

The lawsuit was filed shortly before a memorial service held in Los Angeles.

It says that Island Express Helicopters and the pilot, Ara George Zobayan, had a “duty to use that degree of care that an ordinarily careful and prudent pilot would use under the same or similar circumstances”.

The lawsuit alleges that the pilot – who died in the crash – did not assess weather data before taking off.

It also says the pilot did not abort the flight despite the treacherous conditions.

Island Express Helicopters authorized the flight “with full knowledge that the subject helicopter was flying into unsafe weather conditions”, the complaint says.

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Vanessa Bryant is seeking undisclosed compensatory and punitive damages.

The company has suspended operations.

The aircraft – a Sikorsky S-76B – went down into a hillside outside the city of Calabasas.

Conditions were foggy when the flight took off, and local police had grounded their helicopters due to the poor weather.

The pilot asked air traffic controllers for a special clearance, known as Special Visual Flight Rules, to fly in less than optimal weather, said NTSB board member Jennifer Homendy, who went to the crash scene to collect evidence.

The helicopter, she added, circled in the air for 12 minutes before being given the clearance. The pilot then asked controllers for “flight following”, an assistance given to helicopters to avoid collisions, but was told the craft was too low to be picked up by radar.

Minutes later, the pilot said he was “climbing to avoid a cloud layer”, she added. The helicopter climbed and began a left descending turn, according to radar data, before communication was lost. All those on board were killed.

Kobe and Gianna Bryant were remembered in a “Celebration of Life” memorial at the Staples Center in Los Angeles on February 24.

Beyoncé opened the service with her 2013 hit XO, which she said was one of Kobe Bryant’s favorite songs.

Michael Jordan, Magic Johnson and Bryant’s former teammate Shaquille O’Neal were among those attending.

The Staples Center was Kobe Bryant’s home arena for much of his 20-season career with the Los Angeles Lakers.

Speaking at the event, Vanessa Bryant said of her husband: “He was mine. He was my everything,” and called her daughter Gianna an “amazingly sweet and gentle soul” whose smile took up her entire face.

Island Express Helicopters was limited to operating when the pilot was able to see clearly while flying.

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