‘The Voice’ singer’s murder shines light on the dark side of celebrity: deranged fans
A gunman who shot and killed Christina Grimmie who rose to fame after appearing on ‘The Voice’ travelled to Orlando specifically to attack her and then fatally shot himself
Christina Grimmie’s suspected killer travelled to Orlando, it seems, with a single purpose: to kill her.
The 22-year-old finalist on “The Voice” was shot at close range by a man who appears to have targeted the singer as she signed autographs after a Friday night concert. Asked whether the gunman, a 21-year-old white male whom authorities later identified as Kevin James Loibl, was “a deranged fan” Orlando Police Chief John Mina said: “That’s what it’s looking like”. He added that authorities are still investigating.
Loibl was armed with two handguns, ammunition and a hunting knife - and the tragedy could have been far worse had Grimmie’s brother Marcus not tackled the suspect as he began shooting. Loibl, a 27-year-old from St Petersburg, Florida, shot and killed himself after shooting Grimmie.
We live in a culture of celebrity worship. And for people with mental-health issues, it can become more than celebrity worship. It can become a central focus for them
“Her brother Marcus is a hero and possibly saved countless other lives,” the Orlando Police Department said.
There’s a deep, well-documented dark side to fame. But beyond the overdoses, breakdowns and bankruptcies, there’s something even more terrifying: the vulnerability that comes with having fans who love or loathe too much.
Mark David Chapman was obsessed with the Beatles before he killed John Lennon outside a New York City apartment building in 1980. A few months later, John Hinckley Jr. attempted to assassinate President Ronald Reagan in a delusional effort to impress actress Jodie Foster.
Tennis phenom Monica Seles was stabbed in the back during a 1993 match by a fan of her fiercest opponent, Steffi Graf. David Letterman was famously stalked by a woman who would eventually spend 34 months in jail. Madonna’s stalker scaled the walls of her house.