Christina Grimmie
A few hours after the Judiciary Report's article, police in Orlando, Florida held a press conference
confirming Grimmie was indeed killed by a stalker. Later that evening police further revealed the stalker is 27-year-old
Kevin James Loibl of St. Petersburg, Florida. There were
claims by a Facebook user that Grimmie was killed by an
ex-boyfriend, but police are now stating there is no
evidence to suggest Grimmie knew Loibl.
Police revealed that Loibl was a stalker with a
criminal history for theft, who tried to connect with
popular Grimmie over the internet on social networking. At
the time Grimmie's shooting was announced, she had 659,000
followers on Twitter and 3,000,000 subscribers on You Tube.
There are many major label artists, who have been recording
music for many years, but don't have that type of online
following. Grimmie was definitely being heard online.
Loibl went to Grimmie's concert at The
Plaza theatre, where she was opening for boyband Before You
Exit. Loibl was carrying two guns and a knife, walked over
to Grimmie, who was signing autographs and opened fire. He
shot her 4 times in the chest and head. A hot dog vender at
the venue stated he went inside the theatre when he heard
the commotion and saw Grimmie on the ground with blood
pouring from her head. When I read the vendor's statement, the scenario he described fit that of a stalker,
to just walk up to a singer and shoot that person in
particular, no questions asked. Grimmie's brother tackled
Loibl, who then turned the gun on himself.
Though quite talented (her voice is amazing) and popular
online, Grimmie was by no means rich, as it was the
beginning stages of her career (she had the potential to
become wealthy from music). She was on the television talent
show "The Voice" in 2014, placing third. Then Grimmie began
making appearances and doing shows in smaller venues, but
not enough work yet to necessitate or afford bodyguards. At
this early stage of her career, it was not warranted yet.
However, with the way social networking is working now, with
a small minority of deranged, abusive, violent people
ruining what is often a very positive and uplifting
experience of interacting with others who are nice and
decent, even Twitter famous and Instagram famous people need
to be careful. Poor girl never realized such a thing could
happen.
Kevin James Loibl
Grimmie was a lovely singer with a great voice and good
attitude. Her social networking pages were positive and
funny, as she politely interacted with others. She would be
one of the last people you would think something like this
would happen to, as all indications show she
was sweet to people. However, with crazy people, you never
know what will set them off. A pretty young woman with
talent doing something with her life will attract attention
online. Some will be women who enjoy your work (and in
listening to Grimmie last night for the first time due to
her name trending over tragedy, I was very impressed with
her big voice and enjoying her singing as refreshing and
beautiful). While others will be men who like you and want
to date you.
There's nothing wrong with seeing someone on social
networking and wanting to date them. That's normal. However,
when it turns crazy like Loibl, an unhinged person who in
true stalker fashion clearly began thinking crazy, evil,
violent things about an innocent person (Grimmie), imagining
offenses that never occurred and hidden meanings in her
music and statements online, it can turn deadly. It is not
common that it turns into stalking and murder, but it has
happened. Loibl probably wanting to date Grimmie, may have
realized she liked or was dating someone and it likely
simmered and festered into illogical thinking and ultimately
murder.
The Plaza venue and show's promoter may be sued, as lawyers
will state there was inadequate security. However, most
theatre venues don't have metal detectors or workers who
search concertgoers belongings as they enter the building.
One really would not think violence would erupt at a Before
You Exit or Christina Grimmie show, as they are not
controversial new artists. It's a sad situation.
RELATED READING
Gunman Who Killed 'The Voice' Singer Christina Grimmie
Traveled to Orlando to Shoot Her, Police Say
Jun 11, 2016, 8:11 PM ET - The man who shot
and killed singer Christina Grimmie after her concert in
Orlando traveled there from another Florida city to attack
her, police said today. The suspected gunman, Kevin James
Loibl, 27, of St. Petersburg, had two handguns, loaded
magazines and a hunting knife, the Orlando Police Department
said. Police released his name this afternoon, after earlier
only giving his age -- mistakenly given as 21.
There is no indication that he knew the
22-year-old singer, who was a performer on "The Voice" in
2014, police said. "The suspect traveled to Orlando
apparently to commit this crime," Orlando Police Department
Chief John Mina told reporters at a news conference today.
Loibl was not on police radar and there was "nothing that
would stand out or raise suspicious that he would do
something like this," St Petersburg Police Department
spokesman Rick Shaw said.
According to a Pinellas County police
database, Loibl was never arrested, Shaw said. He was in the
police system, but for minor infractions such as petty
theft, a minor battery incident in which he was the victim
and a 2008 car accident. He was once suspected of aggravated
battery, but no charges were filed after the alleged victim
said she couldn't remember the incident and then became
uncooperative, Shaw said.
Grimmie and the band Before You Exit were
signing autographs and selling merchandise after their show
ended Friday night at 10 p.m. at Orlando's Plaza Live
Theater, when Loibl walked up to her and shot her, Orlando
police said. Loibl fatally shot himself after Grimmie's
brother tackled him to the ground.
"During the struggle, the suspect shot
himself. The suspect was pronounced dead at the scene,"
Orlando Police Department public information officer Wanda
Miglio said during an earlier press briefing this morning.
"Her brother is a hero for saving and stopping him from not
hurting anyone else."...
