Report: Kobe Bryant, Crash Victims Public Memorial Set for Feb. 24 in LA

A public memorial for the victims of the Jan. 26 helicopter crash that resulted in the deaths of nine people, including Kobe and Gianna Bryant, reportedly will be held on Feb. 24.

Per Richard Winton of the Los Angeles Times, the memorial—which is still in the planning stages—will take place at Staples Center. 

Los Angeles Mayor Eric Garcetti told reporters last week that a memorial was in the works, but the city was still figuring out the logistics:

"There will absolutely be a memorial to mark the contributions of this incredible man and not only him, but to commemorate the loss of his daughter and all the other families that were there. We don't have that date finalized but we've been talking every day to the Lakers, and most importantly, to [Bryant's widow, Vanessa] as well. 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."

Bryant, his daughter Gianna and seven others were taking a helicopter to Thousand Oaks for a basketball game at the Mamba Sports Academy when it crashed into a hillside in Calabasas, California, killing everyone on board. John, Keri and Alyssa Altobelli, Sarah and Payton Chester, Christina Mauser and pilot Ara Zobayan all died in the crash. Alyssa Altobelli and Payton Chester were Gianna's teammates on the team that Bryant coached.

The Los Angeles Lakers honored Kobe, Gianna and the other victims of the crash prior to and during their Jan. 31 home game against the Portland Trail Blazers.