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Motive Sought in Killing of ‘The Voice’ Singer

Jun 13, 2016  •  Post A Comment

Authorities were focused on a cellphone and social media accounts used by Kevin James Loibl as they searched for clues to why Loibl fatally shot singer Christina Grimmie as she signed autographs Friday night following a concert in Orlando, Fla.

The Chicago Tribune reports that Loibl, who had apparently never met the former contestant on NBC’s “The Voice,” traveled 100 miles from his hometown of St. Petersburg, killed Grimmie and then fatally shot himself after being tackled by her brother.

The singer’s slaying shocked the city of Orlando just a day before it was further rocked by a mass shooting at the Pulse nightclub in the early hours of Sunday morning that left at least 50 people dead.

Authorities said there was no indication that Loibl knew Grimmie, nor that he had stalked her before Friday night. Grimmie was 22.

Singer Adam Levine, who mentored Grimmie on “The Voice,” sent out a message after her death saying: “Christina was a natural, gifted talent that comes along so rarely. She was taken from us too soon.”

Grimmie had been declared “the vertiable queen of YouTube musicians” by Entertainment Weekly back in 2011. Her performances during her run a couple of years ago on “The Voice” included renditions of “Wrecking Ball” and “Can’t Help Falling in Love.” She ended up placing third in the competition.

Loibl was reportedly armed with two handguns and a hunting knife at Friday’s concert.

Here’s a clip of Grimmie performing “Let It Go” with the group Before You Exit …

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