The Voice singer, Christina Grimmie, shot dead while signing autographs after concert

Heather Walsh, a publicist for Grimmie, said in an email that “we can confirm that Christina has passed and went home to be with the Lord”.

The Orlando Police Department also confirmed on its official Twitter page that Grimmie had died.

Police said the suspect “walked up and shot” Grimmie as she signed autographs for fans at a merchandise table.

She was shot about 10:45pm local time on Friday at The Plaza Live, whe-re she had performed earlier with the band Before You Exit.

Grimmie’s brother immediately tackled the gunman, who then shot and killed himself during the struggle.

The gunman was not identified, and police have not said why he attacked the singer. An investigation is ongoing, but police credited the singer’s brother with preventing the gunman f-rom hurting others.

Christina Grimmie’s brother tackled the gunman who then fatally shot himself. Picture: Katie Darby/Invision/APSource:AP

Sergeant Wanda Miglio said during a news conference after the shooting that about 60 to 100 people were in attendance, though only a handful remained when the shooting happened.

Miglio said she did not know what security was like at the venue, or how the shooter got two guns inside. She also said she did not know if off-duty officers were working the concert.

–– ADVERTISEMENT ––

 

 

“It was just a casual event,” she said.

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

 

 

 Follow

Christina Grimmie 

 

✔@TheRealGrimmie

ORLANDO!! Come out to the show tonight at the Plaza Live! Starts at 7:30!

5:50 PM - 10 Jun 2016

•  
•  
•  
   15,10915,109 Retweets
•  
•  
   32,07332,073 likes

 

 

Grimmie, a New Jersey native, finished third during season six of NBC’s The Voice competing on the team of Maroon 5 star Adam Levine. She began amassing a following on YouTube as a teenager, gripping online viewers with her powerful renditions of hit songs. Several of her videos on YouTube have garnered millions of views.

The Philadelphia Inquirer reported in 2014 that Grimmie moved to Los Angeles in 2012 after joining Selena Gomez on tour to focus on her singing career.

“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,” her brother Mark Grimmie told the newspaper at the time.

Before her death had been confirmed Levine posted on his Instagram page, praying that the star would pull through.

When reports of Grimmie’s death 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 also paid tribute to Grimmie on its official Twitter page: