Killing of Christina Grimmie

Christina Victoria Grimmie (March 12, 1994 – June 10, 2016) was an American singer, songwriter, and internet personality who rose to fame through YouTube cover videos beginning in 2009 and later placed third on season six of NBC's *The Voice*. She released music independently and through a major label, and had recently released her EP *Side A* and appeared in the film *The Matchbreaker* prior to her death.

On the evening of June 10, 2016, Grimmie performed with the band Before You Exit at the Plaza Live in Orlando, Florida. After the show, she held a meet-and-greet in the venue, signing autographs and taking photos with fans in line. At approximately 10:24 p.m., 27-year-old Kevin James Loibl, who was waiting in line, approached her; when she opened her arms to hug him, he produced a Glock pistol and shot her three times at close range. Grimmie's brother, who had been working a nearby merchandise table, tackled Loibl; the two men scuffled before Loibl broke free, backed against a wall, drew a second handgun, and shot himself in the head. He was pronounced dead at the scene. Grimmie was given CPR by an attending physician and taken to Orlando Regional Medical Center, where she was pronounced dead at 10:59 p.m. An autopsy the following day found she had been shot once in the head and twice in the chest.

According to the Orlando Police Department, Loibl had traveled by taxi from his home in St. Petersburg, Florida, carrying two handguns, extra ammunition magazines, and a hunting knife; police stated he appeared to have planned to travel back home after the attack. The venue did not use metal detectors or frisk attendees that night, and Loibl's weapons went undetected despite security screening for food and drink. Loibl had purchased his firearms legally, had no arrest record in his home county, and had not been diagnosed with any mental illness, though he had a documented history of violence. Police did not formally announce a motive but said Loibl had displayed an "unhealthy and unrealistic infatuation" with Grimmie and had undergone cosmetic changes, reportedly in an effort to make himself more appealing to her. He did not personally know Grimmie, and she did not know him.

Grimmie was buried in a private ceremony at Berlin Cemetery on June 16, 2016, followed by a public memorial in Medford, New Jersey. The shooting prompted an outpouring of tributes from musicians and industry figures, renewed public debate over concert-venue security and gun control, and changes to security practices at some venues and conventions. In December 2016, Grimmie's family filed a wrongful-death lawsuit against the concert promoter, venue-owning foundation, and security company; after an initial dismissal and refiling, the case was allowed to proceed in April 2018 before being voluntarily dismissed by the family in December 2019.