Grimmie's Killer Shown in New Police Photo
Some six months after Christina Grimmie’s death, the Orlando Police Department has released new photos from the crime scene, including one showing her killer watching her concert moments before shooting her dead. In the photo below, Kevin James Loibl, a 27-year-old Best Buy employee from St. Petersburg, can be seen in flannel, black jeans, and a black baseball cap behind a bevy of young Grimmie fans inside The Plaza Live the night of June 10:
Loibl joined a line to meet the singer after the show, only to shoot her at point-blank range when it was his turn. Grimmie’s brother Mark then tackled Loibl, who pulled out a second gun and killed himself. In a new interview with the Orlando Sentinel, Mark remembers seeing Loibl at the end of the line because of how much older he looked compared to the other fans. “Christina never judged anyone, so it didn’t matter what someone looked like or if they acted weirdly, she just had this way with people,” he said. “Everyone loved her and we literally never had a problem with any fan. Nothing.” Recalling his tackle with Loibl, Mark said, “I looked, and she [Christina] was on the floor and I just remember screaming bloody murder and jumping on him, then hitting him.” Christina was later taken to Orlando Regional Medical Center, where she passed away.
According to The Sentinel, Cory Dennington, one of the few friends Loibl had in St. Petersburg, described to police the “semi-abusive household” Loibl grew up in. He also told police that Loibl’s draw to Grimmie was related to her Christian faith. “He was impressed that she was a Christian and he told me that she changed him, like she helped him see the world in a different way and that… if there is a God, he sees it in her.”
Other photos released by the Orlando Police Department also show the hotel room Loibl checked into at the Courtyard by Marriott. Authorities uncovered a Nike drawstring backpack containing things like toiletries, bullets, and a sleeping mask. Loibl also had a hunting knife, which he brought to the concert venue but never used.
On Thursday, Grimmie’s family released a teaser for a new song, “Invisible,” writing, “Thank you for all of your support over the years, and patience in the last 6 months. We love you so much.” The single is due for a February 14 release.
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