Christina Grimmies Tourmates Return to Venue Where She Died
Three days after former Voice contestant Christina Grimmie was shot and killed at Orlando’s Plaza Live theater, pop-rock group Before You Exit returned to the venue to pick up their gear on Monday, June 13.
The 22-year-old YouTube star — who finished in third place on season 6 of The Voice — was the band’s opening act, and they called her an “incredible musician and an even better friend” on Twitter on Saturday, June 11.
Before You Exit’s merchandise manager, Anthony Najarian, tweeted about the group’s somber return to the place of Grimmie’s final performance. “So hard going back to the venue today to get our gear. We left the lights on in your green room and prayed over the area of your death,” he wrote on Monday. “I will love you for all eternity and can’t wait to see you again and have an epic Smash battle.” He also shared a photo, which appeared to be taken in her dressing room, of flowers and a heart that said, “Radiate.”
The Orlando-based band, comprised of brothers Connor, Riley and Toby McDonough, canceled their upcoming San Francisco and Los Angeles shows in light of Friday’s tragic events. “Words fail to describe how much Christina means to all of us. She was always a constant beam of light and energy into the hearts of everyone around her,” they wrote in a statement on Twitter on Saturday, June 11. “Her care-free spirit and her laughter constantly lit up every room she entered and she always had this glisten in her eyes which was evident in her faith.”
As Us Weekly previously reported, Grimmie was signing autographs at a meet-and-greet following her show on Friday evening when 27-year-old Kevin James Loibl shot and killed her. The singer’s older brother, Marcus, tackled the gunman, who then shot and killed himself. Authorities later said Grimmie did not know her attacker and called him a “deranged fan.”
Adam Levine, who coached Grimmie on The Voice, has contacted her family and offered to cover the funeral expenses, Marcus wrote in a Facebook post on Sunday, June 12. Christina’s manager, Brian Teefy, who is Selena Gomez’s stepfather, started a GoFundMe page that has so far raised more than $100,000 for the family.
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Gomez, 23, paid tribute to her late friend during the Miami stop of her Revival tour on Saturday. Dozens of celebs, including Meghan Trainor and Fifth Harmony, have also honored Grimmie with live performance tributes.
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