Christina Grimmie a rising star of hit TV Show “The Voice” has passed away after a fatal attack on June 10, 2016, she was only 22. Grimmie was shot three times by 27-year-old Kevin James Loibl while signing autographs after a performance with Before You Exit at The Plaza Live in Orlando, Florida. Loibl then fatally shot himself after being tackled by Grimmie’s brother Marcus. Grimmie was taken to the Orlando Regional Medical Center in critical condition where her death was later confirmed on June 11th.
The Orlando Police Department reported that Loibl did not appear to know Grimmie personally, but had driven from another Florida city with the intent to confront her at the performance and cause her harm. Police reported that Loibl brought two handguns, two extra magazines full of ammunition, and a hunting knife.
Responding to the news on Twitter, The Voice wrote, “There are no words. We lost a beautiful soul with an amazing voice.” Her coach, Adam Levine, wrote that he and his wife were “absolutely devastated and heartbroken. This is yet another senseless act of extreme violence. I am left stunned and confused how these things can conceivably continue to happen in our world.” Fellow coaches Christina Aguilera, Blake Shelton, Usher and Pharrell Williams also sent condolences, as did show host Carson Daly.
Season 9 winner Jordan Smith tweeted, “A star has been snuffed out. An amazing story unwritten.” Finalist Amy Vachal was “shocked and heartbroken”. Before You Exit, with whom Grimmie had performed before the shooting, tweeted, “Today we lost an angel, sister, and a beloved friend.”
