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YouTube and 'The Voice' star Christina Grimmie shot and killed in Florida

A gunman opened fire as she signed autographs for fans after a show.

Liza Hearon

on June 11, 2016

Original image has been replaced. Credit: Mashable

The Voice and YouTube star Christina Grimmie was shot dead in Florida by a gunman who opened fire as she signed autographs for fans after a show, police said Saturday.

She had become popular in the YouTube community for her simple, beautiful covers of popular songs. Her fans expressed their shock in an outpouring of grief on Twitter, using #RIPChristina.

Orlando police were told that the gunman walked toward Grimmie and shot her, after a gig at The Plaza Live with her band Before You Exit.

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Her brother Mark tackled the gunman immediately as he opened fire, and the gunman shot and killed himself in the struggle. Police said her brother's actions prevented the gunman from hurting other people.

She died in a local hospital.

The gunman, a 27-year-old white man, wasn't from Orlando, and had traveled to the city apparently to commit the crime, Orlando Police Chief John Mina told reporters Saturday morning. He was armed with two handguns and a hunting knife. Police were looking at his phone and computer to try to determine a motive, and would release his name in a few hours, they said.

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UPDATE: June 11, 2016, 5:02 p.m. EDT Police have identified the gunman as 27-year-old Kevin James Loibl from St. Petersburg, Florida.

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Video shared online showed her performing on stage shortly before she was shot.

I can't believe I was just at the arena having the best night and on the way home I hear Christina got shot!?! She is the sweetest person ever and so incredibly talented I hope she is ok this is so sad #christinagrimmie #prayforchristina #beforeyouexit #ripchristina @beforeyouexit @therealgrimmie

A video posted by Ashlyn hicks (@ashlynhickss) on Jun 10, 2016 at 8:25pm PDT

The 22-year-old New Jersey native finished third in Season 6 of NBC's The Voice, on Adam Levine's team.

But she had begun amassing her fanbase on YouTube as a teenager with her covers of hit songs. This video has over 11 million views.

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As the reports of her shooting first started coming in, #PrayforChristina was trending; however that turned to #RIPChristina when her death was confirmed.

Her band shared this tribute:

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And tributes poured in worldwide from fans, musicians and friends.

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An investigation is ongoing into her death.

UPDATE: June 11, 2016, 4:40 p.m. BST Added details from press conference.

The Associated Press contributed reporting.

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Liza Hearon

Liza Hearon was the Deputy Editor for Mashable UK. Liza started her career in journalism writing about punk bands for a 'zine in Florida, and her wanderlust has led her to work for news organisations in Russia, Japan and now London. Prior to joining Mashable, she was the European homepage editor for the Wall Street Journal. Liza loves podcasts, karaoke and really, really spicy food.