South Jersey community mourns slain star Christina Grimmie
MEDFORD, N.J. (WPVI) -- The community came together in Medford, New Jersey on Saturday night to mourn the death of Christina Grimmie, the local singer who was gunned down after a performance.
Grimmie was signing autographs after a performance Friday night in Orlando when 27-year-old Kevin Loibl of St. Petersburg, Florida, shot her and then killed himself.
She and her family were longtime members of the Fellowship Alliance Chapel, where Grimmie's humility and voice stood out.
"When we first heard her sing, we were like 'this girl has a good gift,'" said Pastor Brian Snyder.
"She was a wonderful gal and what you saw was what she was. She was genuine. She was the real deal," said Pastor Marty Berglund.
Grimmie had lived in Marlton and attended Cherokee High School before moving to California with her family and finding fame first as a YouTube sensation and then as a contestant on NBC's The Voice.
"When she was on The Voice everyone was watching and following and we were all rooting for her," said student Dave Mosko.
Students at Grimmie's former school are shocked by the rising star's violent death.
"I just thought she was a mellow person. I can't see any reason anyone would want to go after her for any reason at all," said Harrison Brown.
The same year as her appearance on "The Voice," she returned to Evesham Township to perform for its 4th of July celebration.
Mayor Randy Brown tweeted a statement, reading "I'm shocked and saddened by the news of Christina Grimmie's death. She was one of Evesham's shining stars. Condolences to the Grimmie family."
Grimmie's former pastors say their thoughts are now with the Grimmie family, for whom they will pray at services Sunday.
"We miss her horribly. This was so tragic and so sad, and I'm just hoping this weekend we can help people get through their grief," said Berglund.
Brown said Evesham Twp. will hold a vigil in Christina's honor on Monday night.
