‘The Voice’ Singer Christina Grimmie: Gunman Came to Town Specifically to Shoot Her

Orlando Police Chief John Mina said the suspect, identified as a 21-year-old white male, didn’t appear to know Grimmie personally.
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‘The Voice’ Singer Christina Grimmie: Gunman Came to Town Specifically to Shoot Her
Left: Christina Grimmie attends the 2015 To The Rescue! New York Gala at Cipriani 42nd Street on Nov. 13, 2015, in New York. (Jamie McCarthy/Getty Images); Right: Kevin James Loibl, who shot Grimmie after a concert at The Plaza Live Friday night, June 10, 2016, in Orlando, Fla. Orlando Police Department
Petr Svab
Updated:

The gunman who shot and killed singer Christina Grimmie, who rose to fame after appearing on “The Voice,” traveled to Orlando from another Florida city specifically to attack her, authorities said Saturday.

Orlando Police Chief John Mina said the suspect, identified as a 26-year-old Kevin James Loibl, didn’t appear to know Grimmie personally. Grimmie was shot after giving a concert in Orlando on Friday night. She died early Saturday. The gunman then fatally shot himself.

“She was doing a meet-and-greet, just signing autographs and selling merchandise,” Mina said at a news conference Saturday. “This white male approached her and opened fire, striking her. We believe he came here to commit this crime.”

Police said Loibl came from another, unspecified town and carried two handguns, two loaded magazines, and a hunting knife.

Grimmie performed at The Plaza Live theater in Orlando with band Before You Exit. The concert ended at about 10 p.m. and the 22-year-old singer was at a merchandise table signing autographs.

At about 10:30 p.m. Loibl approached Grimmie and shot her. Grimmie’s brother, Marcus, immediately tackled the gunman, who then shot himself.

Police have secured the suspect’s computer and cellphone, the Orlando Sentinel reported.

Grimmie finished third on the sixth season of NBC’s talent show “The Voice” in 2014.

“Christina was such a loving, caring., beautiful person with the biggest hearth,” the band said on Twitter. “She was an absolutely incredible musician and an even better friend. We are so saddened by her passing and are completely heartbroken.”

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“Please come to the show if you live near Orlando, Florida,” she said in the video.

The Associated Press contributed to this article.

Petr Svab
Petr Svab
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Petr Svab is a reporter covering New York. Previously, he covered national topics including politics, economy, education, and law enforcement.
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