Christina Grimmie, 22, former contestant on The Voice, was fatally shot after an Orlando concert.
She was shot late Friday by a 27-year-old white male who traveled to Orlando from another city in Florida with the intent to kill her, police said Saturday. After he shot her, he was tackled by Grimmie’s brother, Marcus. The gunman then shot and killed himself. The assailant was carrying two guns and one knife.
Grimmie had been outside the Plaza Live Theater signing autographs and meeting fans with the band Before You Exit. The singer succumbed to her wounds about five hours later at an Orlando hospital. There is no evidence to suggest Grimmie knew her attacker. Orlando Police Chief John Mina has declined to release the gunman’s name pending investigation.
Josh Call, who was working a hot dog stand, said that he heard four or five gunshots.
“It was quick like pow, pow, pow, pow,” he said. Call explained that he went inside the venue and saw a female with a gunshot wound to the head.
The Plaza Live released a statement about the incident.
“The board and the staff at The Plaza Live Venue are deeply saddened by the events of Friday evening. Our thoughts and prayers are with the families of those lost as well as those who witnessed and aided in the recovery after this senseless act.”
Grimmie, a native of Marlton, New Jersey, built up a large fan base on YouTube, gaining fans who followed her because of her covers of popular songs. She eventually acquired more than 2 million subscribers. She finished in third place on the sixth season of The Voice in 2014, representing Adam Levine’s team. Levine then offered her a record deal through 222 Records. She was working with Island Records on an album that was set to release in the fall.
“People have reached out to me after watching me on The Voice that I don’t think would have taken me seriously when I was just solely making YouTube covers. Being on The Voice stage week after week showed people that I can withstand pressure, keep myself in shape vocally, and cnstantly reinvent myself,” Grimmie said in 2015.
News of her death devastated her hometown, with Mayor Randy Brown calling her “one of Evesham’s shining stars” on Facebook. Governor Chris Christie also paid his respects on social media. Celebrities and fans have taken to social media to express their grief regarding Grimmie’s death. She will be remembered for not just her talent, but also her positivity and her charismatic personality which has touched so many.
