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Christina Grimmie dead: Fan claims The Voice singer 'greeted her killer with open arms for hug'

The fan claims she was waiting in line behind the gunman

Maya Oppenheim
Sunday 12 June 2016 09:28 BST
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Rivera says she gave statements to the police about what she witnessed
Rivera says she gave statements to the police about what she witnessed (Getty)

A Christina Grimmie fan has claimed she saw the singer greet her gunman with open arms before he shot her dead.

The 22-year-old, who was a contestant on the US version of talent series The Voice, was signing autographs at a concert venue in Orlando, Florida on Friday (10 June) when an assailant opened fire on her and then shot himself.

Grimmie was transported to a local hospital where she died from her wounds.

Destiny Rivera, 20, from Orlando, Florida claimed she was waiting in line behind Grimmie’s killer, James Loibl, at the concert.

“Christina was hanging out by the merchandise table, near the sound desk. She was talking to fans and taking pictures,” Rivera told Mail Online.

“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.”

Concert Attendee- 'I Still Hear the Gunshots'

“The one guy in front of us was walking up to meet her. Her arms were open, waiting to greet him with a hug,” she added.

“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,” she continued.

“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.”

Rivera said she gave statements to the police about what she witnessed.

Rivera also posted a lengthy Faceook post explaining that Loibl, 27, looked like a normal concert goer.

Loibl is from St. Petersburg, Florida and travelled across state to target Grimmie, according to Orlando Police. He had been carrying two guns, two loaded magazines and a hunting knife on his person during the shooting,

Grimmie amassed a fan base of millions from performances she uploaded to her YouTube channel as a teenager, she then appeared on The Voice's sixth season in 2014. Tributes have poured in for the singer since news of her tragic death.

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