Kevin James Loibl fatally shot Christina Grimmie and then took his own life during a meet-and-greet after a concert on June 10, 2016. Investigators then discovered that he had spent "most of his waking hours" watching videos of the pop star and altered his appearance in an effort to attract her.
Public DomainKevin James Loibl was identified as the gunman who shot and killed singer Christina Grimmie on June 10, 2016.
On June 10, 2016, Kevin James Loibl stood at the back of a dancing crowd and watched rising pop star Christina Grimmie perform at Plaza Live in Orlando. After the concert, he waited in line with dozens of other fans to meet her — and when his turn came, he pulled out a gun and fatally shot her before taking his own life.
Grimmie had risen to fame on YouTube, and she reached new heights after she appeared on The Voice in 2014. However, Loibl’s family had no idea that he even knew who Grimmie was — so why did he kill her?
Investigators soon learned that Loibl had developed a chilling infatuation with Grimmie in the year prior to the grisly murder-suicide. He’d even undergone surgery in an attempt to make himself appear more attractive to the singer. While his loved ones were unaware of this obsession, Loibl talked about Grimmie so much at work that his colleagues approached their boss with concerns about his mental health.
However, nobody predicted what Kevin James Loibl had planned.
Kevin James Loibl’s Disturbing Obsession With Christina Grimmie
Kevin James Loibl was a 27-year-old man from St. Petersburg, Florida. He worked at Best Buy, spent the majority of his time on his computer, and lived “like a hermit,” according to his family members.
Around 2015, he developed a bizarre obsession with Christina Grimmie. Cory Dennington, who described himself as Loibl’s “only friend in the world,” as reported by CNN in 2016, told investigators that Loibl “watched everything having to do with her” and spent “most of his waking hours” streaming videos of Grimmie or scrolling through her social media pages.
Christina Grimmie/InstagramChristina Grimmie was a 22-year-old singer who skyrocketed to fame after competing on The Voice.
Even while at work, Loibl spoke about Grimmie constantly. He told his co-workers that he sometimes played online games with her, and when they questioned him about his claims, he became “angry and defensive” and said that the singer was his “soul mate.”
In an effort to become more attractive for Grimmie, Loibl got hair transplants, underwent LASIK eye surgery, had his teeth whitened, and started following a vegan diet to lose weight. However, Loibl never revealed what he planned to do when he finally got the chance to meet Grimmie.
Tragically, that chance came in June 2016.
The Murder Of Christina Grimmie At The Hands Of Kevin James Loibl
Cory Dennington saw Loibl for the last time five days before the fateful concert. At the time, Loibl reportedly told Dennington, “I love you, brother,” and said that he was “tired and ready to ascend” — but Dennington didn’t think much of it.
The day before the show, Loibl carefully packed his belongings: the $15 concert ticket he’d purchased, two handguns, multiple loaded magazines, and a hunting knife. He then removed the hard drive from his computer and climbed into the taxi that would take him to Orlando.
Orlando Police DepartmentThis photo shows Kevin James Loibl’s position in the crowd during the concert at Plaza Live on June 10, 2016.
He checked into his hotel around 1:30 p.m., and the front desk manager later recalled he thought it was strange that Loibl had no luggage.
The following evening, Loibl headed to nearby Plaza Live, where Christina Grimmie was set to open for the band Before You Exit. A photo captured him standing at the back of the crowd wearing a black baseball cap as other fans danced and sang around him.
After the performance, Grimmie prepared to greet fans, sign autographs, and take photos at her merchandise table. Loibl stood in line, ready for his chance to finally meet the singer. The day following the concert, a woman who was waiting behind Loibl told PEOPLE that he seemed “kinda creepy.”
“He did look a little bit nervous,” Destiny Rivera said, “but he was by himself and he was dressed as any other concertgoer. He didn’t seem up for a conversation whatsoever, and he was kinda — he just kept looking around and was moving his body.”
Orlando Police DepartmentChristina Grimmie was greeting fans at her merchandise table when Kevin James Loibl fatally shot her.
When Loibl’s turn to meet Grimmie came, recalled Rivera, the singer threw “her arms wide open ready to greet him.” Then, without uttering a word, Loibl pulled out a handgun and fired five shots. He hit Grimmie three times at point-blank range, twice in the chest and once in the head.
Grimmie’s brother, Marcus Grimmie, immediately sprang into action. He leaped over the merchandise table and tackled Loibl to the ground. However, Loibl broke free, backed against a wall, and shot himself in the head, dropping dead instantly.
But why did Loibl take such horrific actions?
The Investigation Into The Rising Pop Star’s Murder
In the aftermath of the murder-suicide, investigators uncovered several disturbing facts about Kevin James Loibl.
He reportedly had a troubling history of violence. Officers had been called to his home twice before the tragic incident. In 2013, Loibl and his father’s fiancée, Dawn, reportedly had a heated argument that led to Loibl slamming a door on her arm, breaking her wrist.
Loibl, however, insisted that she was drunk and that he accidentally shut the door on her arm while trying to escape to his room. Police noted that Dawn was “very intoxicated,” and the matter was dropped.
And although Loibl had no history of mental illness, his family said he did have an odd habit of covering his bedroom windows with aluminum foil and heavy curtains due to his aversion to light.
During a search of Loibl’s home, police found a note taped to the door that read, “Deepest sorrow for lost to the family, friends, and fans of the very talected, loving Christina Grimmie. No other commets.” They also discovered that Loibl’s phone was encrypted and his computer’s hard drive was missing.
Christina Grimmie/InstagramKevin James Loibl allegedly became enraged when photos of Christina Grimmie and Stephen Rezza surfaced online.
Even after a thorough investigation, police never found any evidence of communication between Grimmie and her killer, and they struggled to determine a motive for the crime. However, Loibl’s co-workers reportedly noted that he had become furious when photos surfaced of Grimmie with producer Stephen Rezza. It seemed that Loibl thought if he couldn’t have Grimmie, no one could.
When it came to security at Plaza Live, attendees of the concert reported that there were no metal detectors present and that their bags were barely searched. Grimmie’s family filed a wrongful death lawsuit against the venue in 2016, though the case was ultimately dismissed.
With a missing hard drive and a dead culprit, we may never know exactly why Kevin James Loibl decided to kill Christina Grimmie. But regardless of his reason, Loibl’s actions left a devastating mark on Grimmie’s family, friends, and fans around the world.
After reading about Kevin James Loibl and the murder of Christina Grimmie, go inside the story of Mark David Chapman, the infamous killer of John Lennon. Then, learn about Yolanda Saldívar, the fan club president who killed Selena Quintanilla.
If you or someone you know is contemplating suicide, call the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline at 1-800-273-8255 or use their 24/7 Lifeline Crisis Chat.
