Orlando police ID killer of 'Voice' singer, S.J. native Christina Grimmie

Orlando police identified the gunman who killed South Jersey singer Christina Grimmie as Kevin James Loibl, 27, of St. Petersburg, saying he heavily armed himself and specifically came to her concert to attack the popular star of "The Voice."

The shooter, who apparently did not know the entertainer, traveled more than 100 miles from his home to Grimmie's concert venue by car, packing two small-caliber handguns, two loaded magazines and a large hunting knife, police said. About 30 minutes after the concert ended, he walked toward the 22-year-old singer as she signed autographs, firing several shots at her from one of his guns and triggering chaos among dozens of fans still at The Plaza Live. She fell, critically wounded, and was rushed to a hospital where she later died.

Almost instantly, Grimmie's older brother brother Marcus, 23, lunged at the gunman and tackled him in a struggle that ended when Loibl shot and killed himself.

Police Chief John Mina called Marcus Grimmie, who also goes by Mark, "a hero" and said he surely saved many lives by his quick action.

Mina said Loibl may have been a deranged fan, although the motive for the shooting was still unknown. Loibl's identity was not released for several hours, giving police time to comb his home in St. Petersburg and search his computer and cellphone for any clues to the shooting attack.

The chief said Loibl did not come to the venue in his own car and had made travel arrangements to get there and to leave. He did not elaborate.

"She was doing a meet-and-greet, just signing autographs and selling merchandise," Mina said. Loibl "approached her and opened fire, striking her. We believe he came here to commit this crime," he added.

Grimmie was shot several times about 10:30 p.m. Police said they received numerous calls from people who had either witnessed the shooting or heard the gunfire.

Her death set off a torrent of grief and condolences in the entertainment world, among her fans and friends closer to her former New Jersey home.

Grimmie finished third during the 2014 season six of NBC's "The Voice," competing on the team of Maroon 5 star Adam Levine. As a teenager, she started her ascent to stardom by firing up her keyboard and recording a cover of Miley Cyrus' "Party in the U.S.A." in her Marlton bedroom - complete with a Sonic the Hedgehog poster taped to the wall behind her - and uploaded the performance to YouTube. Soon she amassed a YouTube following, gripping online viewers with powerful renditions of hit songs. Her many videos on YouTube, which were not formally marketed, have spontaneously attracted millions of views.

Police said Grimmie had performed with the band Before You Exit and was signing autographs at a merchandise table when Loibl approached her.

"Very heroic actions by Marcus Grimmie to jump in and it definitely could have prevented further loss of life," Mina said.

Mina said there is no video of the shooting that police are aware of.

Police Sgt. Wanda Miglio said Saturday she did not know how the shooter got inside the venue with two handguns. Mina said there were unarmed security guards at the venue, routinely checking bags and purses.

"It was just a casual event," Miglio said.

Grimmie had posted an upbeat video of herself shortly before the concert was scheduled to begin, encouraging fans to come see her perform.

When reports of the shooting first surfaced, #PrayforChristina was the top trending hashtag on Twitter. After her death was confirmed, #RIPChristina became the top trending hashtag as Grimmie's fans took to social media to express an outpouring of grief.

"The Voice" paid tribute to Grimmie on its official Twitter page: "There are no words. We lost a beautiful soul with an amazing voice."

Adam Levine, her coach on "The Voice," said he is "absolutely devastated and heartbroken" over the young singer's death. "Christina was a natural, a gifted talent that comes along so rarely. She was taken from us too soon."

He called the shooting "yet another senseless act of extreme violence. I am left stunned and confused how these things can conceivably continue to happen in our world."

Blake Shelton, a judge on "The Voice," said he was "stunned and disgusted and heartbroken that we lost that sweet little girl."

Christina Aguilera, a former judge on the show and one of Grimmie's favorite vocalists, said on Twitter "My heart goes out to her family, friends & fans. XO"

Grimmie's publicist, Heather Weiss, said in an email early Saturday that "we can confirm that Christina has passed and went home to be with the Lord."

Nick Gargano of South Jersey, a cousin of Grimmie's, spoke briefly to The Inquirer from Orlando Saturday morning. He said Grimmie's parents, Albert and Tina Grimmie, were flying to Orlando.

Growing up in South Jersey

Grimmie grew up in Marlton, in Burlington County, with her parents and her brother Mark.

At the age of 5, she attended Bethel Baptist Christian School in Cherry Hill, in neighboring Camden County, where she met one of her two best friends, Sarah Luebkemann, when the two were in kindergarten.

In a 2014 interview, Luebkemann, told the Inquirer: "I think she knocked over my crayons or I knocked over hers. We've been best friends ever since."

Luebkemann, now 22, was grieving in her family's Marlton home after learning of Grimmie's death and didn't want to talk to anyone, her father, Bill Luebkemann, 59, said Saturday morning.

"It's a tragic and senseless loss," Bill Luebkemann said. "My daughter was Christina's best friend since kindergarten. We're shocked and saddened. What more can you say?"

He said his daughter, Grimmie, and another friend, Lauren Longo, were all best friends.

"The three of them were like triplets," he said.

Bill Luebkemann said he was not aware of any gathering for Grimmie taking place on Saturday in South Jersey.

Grimmie attended Marlton Middle and Cherokee High School through her sophomore year, when she left and moved to Los Angeles in 2012 to join Selena Gomez on tour to focus on her own singing career.

"She was the sweetest, kindest person in the world. She wouldn't hurt a fly," said Eric Parker, 22, who was her friend and fellow video game player in middle school and high school.

"We would always tell her to sing because she had a beautiful voice," he said. "She inspired so many people. We were very proud of her - someone from Marlton on "The Voice," to be doing what she was doing. She was following her dream. She was making it," he said.

The spirited and enthusiastic Grimmie was grateful for the sudden fame her "Voice" competition inspired. She rocked a poofy, choppy hairstyle that came to be called "the Grimmie," and friends said they thought she was followed by so many because she seemed so genuine, staying true to herself."

At that time, her brother told the Inquirer: "I'm done being surprised by cool things she does. She's very talented and she's worked incredibly hard - it's a dangerous combination."

When she moved with her family to California, Grimmie said she missed most the pizzas from Sal's Pizzaworks in Marlton. "Man, that is the greatest pizza ever..." she told The Inquirer.

News of her death hit hard at Sal's on Saturday.

"It's absolutely heartbreaking," said Kim Rotondi, 44, a member of the family that owns the pizzeria. "We knew the whole family. They're such warm people. I can't imagine what they're going through."

Before Christina's father Albert moved to California, he worked at the Verizon office across the street and was a regular customer, along with her brother Mark, Rotondi said.

And whenever Christina came back to the area, she came in, ordering her favorite panzarotti, a fried dough ball filled with sauce and cheese.

"She was famous, but it didn't get to her," Rotondi said. "She was still a hometown girl. She'd still come in to see her friends."

News of her death was deeply felt at the Fellowship Alliance Church in Medford, where the Grimmie family worshipped before moving to California.

Shortly before the regular 6 p.m. Saturday service was to begin, Assistant Pastor Don Hay described himself in "just shock" over the killing.

"A lot of people here are impacted by it," he said. "She was sweet, so young, not someone you would think who would end up in a situation like that."

Grimmie, her parents and brother had been members of the evangelical Christian church for about 10 years. The singer last attended Fellowship Alliance two years ago for Easter services, taking time to pose for selfies with younger church members, Hay said.

About 500 to 600 churchgoers were expected at Saturday's regularly scheduled service, where Senior Pastor Marty Berglund planned to speak about Grimmie's death.

In a tweet, Cherokee High School in Marlton posted on Saturday: "A tragedy... It is with heavy hearts our Cherokee family extends sincerest condolences to the family of Christina Grimmie ...always a Chief."

Evesham Township, which includes Marlton, said in a Facebook post on Saturday that it "is shocked and saddened by the news of Christine Grimmie's death. She was one of Evesham's finest. Our thoughts and prayers are with the Grimmie family during this tragic time."

The Philadelphia Music Alliance said in a statement Saturday that Grimmie was back in Philadelphia to perform at the Fillmore, at 29 East Allen Street in Fishtown, just two weeks ago for her hometown kickoff as a special guest on Before You Exit's "All The Lights" tour. She performed on Sunday, May 29.

"We are horrified and deeply saddened over the unconscionable murder last night of Christina Grimmie. She was poised to be one of the Philadelphia area's next global music ambassadors, but her star shined all too briefly, PMA Board Chairman Alan Rubens said in the statement.

"Christina was struck down at a terribly young age, doing what she loved best. We're extremely proud to have called her our own, and she will not be forgotten. We extend our heartfelt condolences to her family, friends, and fans as we cherish her memory."

Staff writers Julia Terruso and Rita Giordano contributed to this story, which also contains information from the Associated Press.

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