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Police: Christina Grimmie killer at show just to attack her

ORLANDO, Fla. (AP) - A gunman who shot and killed a singer who rose to fame after appearing on "The Voice" traveled to Orlando from another Florida city specifically to attack her and then fatally shot himself, authorities said Saturday.

Orlando Police Chief John Mina said at a news conference that the suspect, identified as 27-year-old Kevin Loibl of St. Petersburg, Florida, didn't appear to know Christina Grimmie personally. Grimmie was shot to death after giving a concert in Orlando on Friday night. She died early Saturday.

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

The 22-year-old singer from New Jersey finished third during season six of NBC's "The Voice" in 2014, 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. Her videos on YouTube have garnered millions of views.

In an earlier statement, police said Grimmie had performed with the band Before You Exit at The Plaza Live in Orlando. The concert ended around 10 p.m., and Grimmie was shot as she signed autographs for fans at a merchandise table in The Plaza Live concert venue.

Grimmie's brother, Marcus, immediately tackled the gunman, who then shot and killed himself during the struggle, police said. They credited the singer's brother with preventing the gunman from hurting others. Around 120 others were in The Plaza Live at the time.

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

After the concert, 17-year-old Kaitlin Martin was standing with a group of other fans outside The Plaza Live, waiting for members of Before You Exit to come out, when she heard several loud "pops."

"We thought at first they were balloons ... but then security started running all over the place yelling at people to get out because someone has a gun and someone is shooting. Everyone is just running all over the place," said Martin, who traveled to see to the concert from Brunswick, Georgia. "It was chaos."

Martin said she was unsettled knowing the suspect had watched the concert in the same audience she was in.

"This person was in the crowd with us, and while we were singing, having a great time, he was there with different intentions," she said.

Detectives were searching Loibl's cellphone and social media accounts looking for clues as to a motive, Mina said, but they weren't aware of any history of stalking of Grimmie by the suspect.

At Loibl's home, in St. Petersburg, someone had left a note on the front door, expressing the "deepest sorrow" for the loss "to the family, friends & fans of the very talented, loving Christina Grimmie." The note said there would be no other comment. No one answered the door to the one-story house that had a rusted, metal animal trap in the yard.

Loibl had on him two handguns, two loaded magazines and a hunting knife, Mina said.

There were unarmed security guards at The Plaza Live and they checked bags and purses for contraband, but there were no metal detectors or pat-downs of people as they entered The Plaza Live, he said.

A spokeswoman said all events at The Plaza Live had been suspended until further notice.

Loibl had made travel arrangements to come to Orlando alone, as well as travel arrangements to go back home, but he didn't have a car, Mina said. The police chief wouldn't elaborate further.

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

Levine posted a photo of himself with Grimmie on Instagram, commenting before her death was confirmed: "I'm sad, shocked and confused. We love you so much Grimmie. We are all praying hard that you can pull through this ... this just isn't fair."

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

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 told the newspaper at the time.

___

Tamara Lush in St. Petersburg contributed to this report.

Orlando Police Chief John Mina holds a press conference Saturday, June 11, 2016, in Orlando, Fla., outside The Plaza Live theater, the location where singer Christina Grimmie was shot and killed the night before. The gunman who shot and killed the singer who rose to fame after appearing on "The Voice" traveled to Orlando from another Florida city specifically to attack her and then fatally shot himself, authorities said Saturday. (Jordan Krumbine/Orlando Sentinel via AP) MAGS OUT; NO SALES; MANDATORY CREDIT The Associated Press
Orlando Police Chief John Mina holds a press conference Saturday, June 11, 2016, in Orlando, Fla., outside The Plaza Live theater, the location where singer Christina Grimmie was shot and killed the night before. The gunman who shot and killed the singer who rose to fame after appearing on "The Voice" traveled to Orlando from another Florida city specifically to attack her and then fatally shot himself, authorities said Saturday. (Jordan Krumbine/Orlando Sentinel via AP) MAGS OUT; NO SALES; MANDATORY CREDIT The Associated Press
FILE - In this March 2, 2016 file photo, Christina Grimmie performs as the opener for Rachel Platten at Center Stage Theater, in Atlanta. Florida authorities say "The Voice" star Grimmie is in critical condition after being shot at a concert venue in Orlando by a suspect who then fatally shot himself after being tackled by the singer-songwriter’s brother. Orlando Police Department officials tell WKMG-TV that Grimmie was shot Friday night, June 10, 2016, at The Plaza Live, where she was scheduled to perform. (Photo by Katie Darby/Invision/AP, File) The Associated Press
The exterior of The Plaza Live theater, the location where singer Christina Grimmie was shot and killed the night before is shown as police hold a press conference discussing the death of the singer, Saturday, June 11, 2016, in Orlando, Fla. The gunman who shot and killed the singer who rose to fame after appearing on "The Voice" traveled to Orlando from another Florida city specifically to attack her and then fatally shot himself, authorities said Saturday. (Jordan Krumbine/Orlando Sentinel via AP) MAGS OUT; NO SALES; MANDATORY CREDIT The Associated Press
Cancellation notices are displayed on the doors of The Plaza Live theater, the location where singer Christina Grimmie was shot and killed the night before, as police hold a press conference discussing the death of the singer, Saturday, June 11, 2016, in Orlando, Fla. The gunman who shot and killed the singer who rose to fame after appearing on "The Voice" traveled to Orlando from another Florida city specifically to attack her and then fatally shot himself, authorities said Saturday. (Jordan Krumbine/Orlando Sentinel via AP) MAGS OUT; NO SALES; MANDATORY CREDIT The Associated Press
FILE - In this March 2, 2016 file photo, Christina Grimmie performs as the opener for Rachel Platten at Center Stage Theater, in Atlanta. Florida authorities say "The Voice" star Grimmie is in critical condition after being shot at a concert venue in Orlando by a suspect who then fatally shot himself after being tackled by the singer-songwriter’s brother. Orlando Police Department officials tell WKMG-TV that Grimmie was shot Friday night, June 10, 2016, at The Plaza Live, where she was scheduled to perform. (Photo by Katie Darby/Invision/AP, File) The Associated Press
Orlando Police Chief John Mina, second from left, holds a press conference Saturday, June 11, 2016, in Orlando, Fla., outside The Plaza Live theater, the location where singer Christina Grimmie was shot and killed the night before. The gunman who shot and killed the singer who rose to fame after appearing on "The Voice" traveled to Orlando from another Florida city specifically to attack her and then fatally shot himself, authorities said Saturday. (Jordan Krumbine/Orlando Sentinel via AP) MAGS OUT; NO SALES; MANDATORY CREDIT The Associated Press
FILE - This April 15, 2014 file photo shows, Christina Grimmie at "The Voice" Top 12 Red Carpet Event in Universal City, Calif. Florida authorities say "The Voice" star Grimmie is in critical condition after being shot at a concert venue in Orlando, Friday, June 10, 2016, by a suspect who then fatally shot himself after being tackled by the singer-songwriter's brother. Grimmie, a 22-year-old New Jersey native, finished third during season six of NBC's "The Voice." (Photo by Richard Shotwell/Invision/AP, File) The Associated Press
Singer Christina Grimmie was shot after a concert at The Plaza Live Friday night, June 10, 2016, in Orlando, Fla. A publicist for Grimmie says "The Voice" star has died after being shot at a concert venue in Florida. Police said in a news release that the 22-year-old singer's brother tackled the gunman after the shooting Friday night. (Christal Hayes/Orlando Sentinel via AP) MAGS OUT; NO SALES; MANDATORY CREDIT The Associated Press
Singer Christina Grimmie was shot after a concert at The Plaza Live Friday, June 10, 2016, in Orlando, Fla. A publicist for Grimmie says "The Voice" star has died after being shot at a concert venue in Florida. Police said in a news release that the 22-year-old singer's brother tackled the gunman after the shooting Friday night. (Christal Hayes/Orlando Sentinel via AP) MAGS OUT; NO SALES; MANDATORY CREDIT The Associated Press
This undated photo released by the Orlando Police shows Kevin James Loibl. Authorities said Saturday, June 11, 2016, Loibl has been identified as the gunman who shot and killed Christina Grimmie, a singer who rose to fame after appearing on "The Voice." (Orlando Police via AP) The Associated Press
This undated photo released by the Orlando Police shows Kevin James Loibl. Authorities said Saturday, June 11, 2016, Loibl has been identified as the gunman who shot and killed Christina Grimmie, a singer who rose to fame after appearing on "The Voice." (Orlando Police via AP) The Associated Press
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