Relatives of the man who shot singer Christina Grimmie dead at a concert last night before killing himself have apologized for the murder in a note stuck to their front door
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Kevin James Lobil, 27, drove from his home in St Petersburg last night to a Grimmie concert in nearby Orlando armed with two handguns and a knife before opening fire as she signed autographs for fans, police say.
This afternoon a hastily-scribbled note was found pinned to the door of his house, which he shares with his parents, which says: 'Deepest sorrow for lost [sic] to the family, friends and fans of the very talented, loving Christina Grimmie. No other comments.'
Meanwhile witness Destiny Rivera, 20, claimed that she was standing behind the shooter as he walked over to Grimmie at a merchandise table after the gig.
Rivera said that Grimmie was standing with open arms waiting to give him a hug before he opened fire.
While officers have not yet attributed a motive to the killing, Orlando police chief John Mina said it is 'looking like' Loibl was a deranged fan of the singer.
Grimmie had been performing as an opening act for band Before You Exit at The Plaza Live. The concert finished at 10pm and she was signing autographs at a merchandise table when Loibl approached.
Mina said that the 27-year-old gunman had traveled to Orlando from St Petersburg, around a two-hour drive away, specifically to kill Grimmie.
He said the suspect did not know her, despite coming to the concert armed with two handguns, extra magazines and a knife.
He added that Loibl had plans to travel home after the attack, but did not reveal how cops know this.
The venue where the concert was held has unarmed security guards who check bags and purses for weapons when people enter the building, but there are no metal detectors.
Rivera also said she had been standing behind the shooter in the queue of fans waiting to meet Grimmie after the gig.
She said: 'Christina was hanging out by the merchandise table, near the sound desk,’ Destiny said. 'She was talking to fans and taking pictures.
'I had made friends in line with some other fans and my group were talking to them. Two people were meeting Christina and there was one guy in front of us in line.
‘When he was walking up to meet her, her arms were open, waiting to greet him with a hug.
‘Then there was a sound of three pops, like balloons. People had brought balloons to the show and the security guards were popping them so at first I thought it was that.
‘Then I saw the yellow barricade fall and the two people who had just met her started running away.
‘I saw Christina's leg fall to the side on the ground like a dead weight. I didn't see her face.
‘I saw her brother jump over the merchandise table and then it was just a blur. I turned and started running, then I heard another pop.'
Speaking about the shooter, she added: 'He seemed nervous. He was there by himself, looking around and moving, like he was trying to find something to do because he was on his own.
'He looked kind of creepy. He seemed around our age. He had no bag with him but had on a black hat and a red and black flannel shirt.'
Rivera mentioned that she and her friends had arrived late to the gig and were waved through security without being patted down or having their bags searched.
She added: 'I want to say a personal thank you to Christina's brother, Mark. Since the shooter had so many weapons on him, it makes me wonder what he actually had in mind.
'It also pains me to think, "what if Mark didn't tackle the shooter?" Mark definitely became a hero last night. His brave, strong soul was able to save the life of my friends, Christina's other beloved fans, and myself.
'Because of him, my friends and I made it out of the venue safe and alive. 'I am so grateful that people like Mark exist in the world because he was able to risk his life to save others and he did not have a second thought about it.
'I have so much love and respect for him and although I may never get the chance to let him know in person, I still want him to know that I am thankful for everything he did for me that night.'
Dan Erickson, 38, a neighbor, who lives close to the Loibls house, said that he rarely saw the son, but that his father was 'very nice'.
He added: 'When a tree fell down on my house, he was the first person to come over and make sure we were okay.'
Marcus Grimmie, Christina's brother who also goes by the name Mark, paid tribute to her on Facebook this afternoon, saying she was his 'partner in life'.
He wrote: '[She was] a superstar. A goofball. Introverted. And a friend to everyone. Genuinely. But above all...she was my baby sister.
'She loved the Lord and her family and was always there for me and I honestly don't know what I'll do without her.'
Meanwhile a source told confirmed that Mark, who acted as Grimmie's tour manager, 'had a really loving relationship' with her and that the pair 'had each other's backs'.
The source added: 'They basically hung out the entire time. You could tell they were sort of a team.
'There was a lot of laughter in between takes, during takes – they were joking back and forth. It was a really good vibe.'
Fellow singer Selena Gomez also paid tribute to Grimmie, who she met through her stepfather Brian Teefey.
Selena wrote on Twitter: 'My heart is absolutely broken. I miss you Christina.'
Meanwhile another witness described the horrific events play out and said the room went 'f***ing crazy' after shots were fired.
Karla Abel claimed that Grimmie had been interacting with fans post-concert at 10.30pm Friday and that the atmosphere was 'super normal' and 'happy'.
The 22-year-old singer was standing by a table surrounded by people, including band Before You Exit, at a merchandise table and there was a 'good vibe', explained Abel.
She then heard the sound of 'six or seven' gunshots which she thought at first were firecrackers.
Seconds later, the room descended into chaos.
Abel said: 'People were throwing themselves onto the ground, and covering their heads.
'All I could do was look at the exit doors and duck and run out. But it was terrifying. Everyone was screaming.'
Between the crowds of people who were ducking on the floor, Abel said she saw Grimmie's feet, which weren't moving.
She said she didn't see any blood, but thinks her friend did.
Brother Mark, then tackled the heavily-armed gunman before he killed himself in front of about 60 children and teenagers.
The teens were then evacuated from the Plaza Live Theater by security and told to wait outside until police had arrived.
The singer was taken to Orlando Regional Medical Center in a critical condition; one witness said he saw her bleeding from the head and being given chest compressions.
The gunman died on the scene and no one else was hurt during the shooting. At 2.45am Grimmie's publicist confirmed the star had died from her injuries.
The street were filled with tears as her fans said their goodbyes.
'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 gun shot wounds,' she said.
Christina was someone everyone loved and cherished. She also got tribute from the likes of Adam Levine and Nick Jonas as well as Demi Lovato.
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