Kobe Bryant Crash Photos: Everything to Know About the LA County Sheriff's Department Leak

The Allegations First Emerge

On Friday, it was alleged that deputies from the Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department had released a number of photos of the Jan. 26 crash site that were said to have been "graphic" in nature, per ABC 7 News. It is currently unclear who may be involved in this leak, as no names have yet been officially released in connection with the reported action.

"The sheriff is deeply disturbed at the thought deputies could allegedly engage in such an insensitive act," a statement from the department said, according to ABC News. "A thorough investigation will be conducted by the department, with the number one priority of protecting the dignity and privacy of the victims and their families."

Who Took the Photos?

The Los Angeles Times reported that it is unclear how widely the images have been shared. Additionally, they reported that it is currently unclear whether the deputies who were involved in the alleged incident took the photos at the scene of the crash or whether they had received them from another source.

An Update From TMZ

While the Times did not share any details about who allegedly shared the photos, TMZ has reported more information about the issue. The publication alleged that "multiple L.A. County Sheriff's deputies who responded to the crash scene took photos that included remains." The agency continues to allege that one of the deputies who obtained photos had supposedly shown them off at a bar, with a source claiming that "he tried to impress a girl by showing her the photos."

TMZ reported that a bartender had overheard the conversation about the photos and subsequently filed an online complaint to the L.A. Sheriff County Department.

The Timeline of the Alleged Issue

In TMZ's report, it was also alleged that the L.A. County Sheriff's Department has known about this issue for about three weeks. The deputy who allegedly showcased photos of the crash at the bar reportedly did so only a few days after the crash occurred.

A Statement From Capt. Jorge Valdez

In response to this matter, Capt. Jorge Valdez told the L.A. Times that "his office had been obligated to contact the family members of crash victims" not because of the photos but due to the allegations. He also explained that he was "unaware of any complaint" about the alleged leak.

The L.A. Sheriff's Department Releases a Statement

Shortly after the allegations were revealed, the L.A. County Sheriff's Department released an official statement regarding the matter. In their statement, they noted that a "thorough investigation" would be done regarding this incident.

"The sheriff is deeply disturbed at the thought deputies could allegedly engage in such an insensitive act," the statement said, as obtained by ABC News. "A thorough investigation will be conducted by the department, with the number one priority of protecting the dignity and privacy of the victims and their families."

It is unclear how long this investigation will take.