Christina Grimmie, 22, former ‘The Voice’ singer, shot at concert
ORLANDO, Fla. — Singer Christina Grimmie, a performer on "The Voice" in 2014, has died after being shot at a concert venue i n Orlando, Florida, Friday evening, her rep confirmed early Saturday morning. She was 22.
The male suspect, identified as Kevin James Loibl, 27, shot himself and is dead, Orlando Police Department public information officer Wanda Miglio said during a press briefing early Saturday.
In a statement, Grimmie's rep said, "It is with a heavy heart that we can confirm that Christina has passed and went home to be with the Lord. She was shot at her show in Orlando and, unfortunately, didn't survive the gun shot wounds. We ask at this time that you respect the privacy of her family and friends in their time of mourning. If you'd like to give back to Christina's family in her memory, please consider donating to the families GoFundMe page in their time of need."
Grimmie and the band Before You Exit were signing autographs and selling merchandise after their show ended at 10 p.m. at Orlando's Plaza Live Theater, when a man carrying two guns walked up to her and shot her, Miglio said, adding it was unclear how the suspect entered the venue with the firearms. She said police responded to a call received at 10:24 p.m. that shots had been fired at Plaza Live Theater.
Miglio said Grimmie's brother, Mark, "immediately tackled the suspect, stopping him from causing any more harm to Christina and her fans. During the struggle, the suspect shot himself. The suspect was pronounced dead at the scene... Her brother is a hero for saving and stopping him from not hurting anyone else," said Miglio.
In another press briefing Saturday, police said the gunman carried two handguns, loaded magazines and a hunting knife. He traveled to the concert venue from another part of Florida "to commit this crime," Orlando Police Department Chief John Mina told reporters. There’s no indication that he knew Grimmie personally and investigators are searching his belongings to determine a motive for the shooting, police said.