Kobe Bryant and his 13-year-old daughter Gianna have finally been laid to rest, according to E! News. The father and daughter were celebrated in a private funeral in Los Angeles by close family and friends.
Kobe, Gianna, and seven others were killed in a helicopter crash while traveling to a basketball game at Kobe’s Mamba Sports Academy in Thousand Oaks, California.
An investigation is currently underway to find out why the crash occurred. According to the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB), the initial investigation of the crash shows that there was no engine failure. Investigators say that it appears that the engine was working properly at the time of the crash because there was a cut tree branch at the scene.
Although we don’t know many details about the private funeral, a public memorial will be held for Kobe and Gianna on Feb. 24 at the Staples Center.
“I think one message that I would say is this is not just about a man who was a basketball player, this is about a father, this is about a leader, this is about a filmmaker, this is about an artist, this is about somebody who was so much more than just how he was on the court,” he told reporters,” said Los Angeles Mayor Eric Garcetti.
He continued, “It’s a reminder how much unity we have, though. We are one city that believes in each other, believes in something bigger than ourselves and we will absolutely do everything to make sure that this is done so that everybody can come to it as well.”
The Staples Center has hosted memorials for Michael Jackson and Nipsey Hussle. The memorial is set to begin at 10 a.m. PST. Additional information about tickets for the memorial are not available as of yet.