Christina Grimmie’s killer identified as Kevin James Loibl

Christina Grimmie’s killer has been identified.

The man who shot the 22-year-old singer dead following her concert performance in Orlando on Friday (06.10.16) has been named as Kevin James Loibl, 27, from St. Petersburg, Florida, who police believe travelled to the gig with the intention of killing Christina.

Christina opened for the band Before You Exit at The Plaza Live in Orlando and stayed on afterwards to sign autographs for fans when the attacker – who was carrying two handguns, two loaded magazines and a hunting knife – approached her and opened fire.

During a press conference Orlando Police Chief John Mina said it was likely that the man was a deranged fan and that Christina did not know him.

He said: "That would be speculation, but that’s what it’s looking like.

"There’s no indication that he knew her, we’re looking into that to try and find a motive for the crime."

He added that police were currently searching through the Loibl’s phone and computer to find a possible motive for the murder.

The police chief added: "He came here to commit this crime and had plans to travel back to where he came from."

However, after Christina’s brother tackled Loibl, the murderer turned the gun on himself.

Christina’s death was confirmed in a statement from her representative, which read: "It is with a heavy heart that we can confirm that Christina has passed and went home to be with the Lord. She was shot at her show in Orlando and, unfortunately, didn’t survive the gunshot wounds. We ask at this time that you respect the privacy of her family and friends in their time of mourning."

Christina – who appeared on season six of ‘The Voice USA’ – first found fame as a teenager for her renditions of hit songs, which led to her developing a huge following on YouTube.

She released her debut recording ‘Find Me’ in 2011, while the singer’s second EP – ‘Side A’ – was released earlier this year.