California copter crash kills nine -L.A. County officials

Los Angeles County Sheriff Alex Villanueva says he believes there were nine victims of a helicopter crash that reportedly killed former NBA Star Kobe Bryant.

Villanueva said, "it would be extremely disrespectful to understand that your loved one was - perished, that you learn about it from TMZ."

Kobe Bryant, who won five NBA championships with the Los Angeles Lakers and was considered one of basketball's all-time greats, was killed on Sunday in a helicopter crash near Los Angeles along with all four others on board, officials said.

But during a news conference in Calabasas, Los Angeles County Sheriff Alex Villanueva said the coroner has yet to determine who was among the dead.

He added it would be inappropriate to learn about a loved ones death from TMZ, which first reported that Bryant had died in the crash.

U.S. media also reported Bryant's 13-year-old daughter, Gianna was among the dead.

The chopper went down in a remote field around 10 a.m.

(1800 GMT) about 40 miles (65 km) northwest of central Los Angeles, officials said.

There were no survivors.