A Washington state high school principal who suggested in a Facebook post that Kobe Bryant deserved to die the day he was killed in a helicopter crash has been placed on administrative leave.
Camas High School Principal Liza Sejkora sparked outrage when she made the remarks in a since-deleted Facebook post on Jan. 26 — after Bryant, his daughter Gianna and seven others died when the Lakers legend’s chopper went down in Calabasas, California.
“Not gonna lie. Seems to me that karma caught up with a rapist today,” Sejkora wrote.
The principal on Monday issued an apology in an email to parents, saying her words were “inappropriate and tasteless,” and “a personal, visceral reaction,” according to The Columbian newspaper.
The school district said that Sejkora, who has led the high school since 2017, had been receiving threats over the post.
Officials on Tuesday night announced they’d placed her on leave, according to the Camas-Washougal Post-Record.
“Our priority is always the safety of our students and staff,” Superintendent Jeff Snell wrote to parents.
“In light of threats to (Sejkora) and concern from our community, (Sejkora) has been placed on administrative leave today pending the outcome of our investigation.”
Snell said he’d be taking over as school leader during Sejkora’s leave.
On Wednesday morning, he said district officials had met with Camas police to review threats made against Sejkorka.
Bryant, 41, was arrested for felony sexual assault in 2003, but prosecutors later dropped the charges after his accuser declined to testify.
A civil case the woman brought against him was settled out of court in 2005 for an undisclosed amount and included a public apology from Bryant.
