Christina Grimmie fundraising page tops $120,000
Christina Grimmie's Gofundme page has already raised more than $120,000.
The former The Voice contestant was shot dead on Friday (10Jun16) aged 22, when 27-year-old gunman Kevin James Loibl opened fire on her as she signed autographs after her concert at the Plaza Live venue in Orlando, Florida.
Loibl, who was armed with two guns, shot Christina before turning
the gun on himself as the star's brother Mark tackled him to the
ground. The singer was rushed to the Orlando Regional Medical
Center, where she was later pronounced dead.
After her passing, Selena Gomez's stepfather Brian Teefey, who
worked as Christina's manager, set up a page to raise money for the
Grimmie family.
"Words cannot begin to describe the pain I am feeling. I learned
this business through the eyes of a father and Christina was like a
second daughter to me," Brian wrote in the description. "All I
wanted to do was assist her in achieving her musical dreams while
protecting her from the pitfalls associated with the business. I
never could have imagined this horrific event being one of the
pitfalls needing to be avoided. In Christina’s honor I have created
a GoFundMe page to assist her family in their time of need.
"Grimms I love you, and miss you beyond comprehension," he
concluded.
The page was set up with a $4,000 target but reached $120,840 in
just two days following donations from 4,281 people.
Christina's brother Mark, who was hailed a hero for his efforts in
tackling the gunman to the ground, wrote a touching tribute to his
sister on Facebook in the wake of her shocking death. Sharing five
photos of his sibling on Facebook, he asked others to join him in
celebrating her life.
"I would love all and any of you to post pics of you and her and/or
memories you have of her down in the comments," he wrote in the
post on Saturday. "I will cherish it forever and always. So please
do that for me."
Mark said his little sister was a superstar, and confessed he did
not know what he would do now that she was gone.
"Christina was more than my sister," he posted. "She was a partner
in life. 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 ill (sic) do without her."