The family of slain You Tube and The Voice star Christina Grimmie has filed a lawsuit against AEG Live over the singer’s death on June 10 when she was fatally shot during a meet and greet following a concert in Orlando. This, according to Billboard magazine:
The Grimmie family’s suit was filed Tuesday (Dec. 20) in Florida and also names The Orlando Philharmonic Orchestra Plaza Foundation, which owns the Plaza Live venue where Grimmie shot, as well as the security company working the event. In it, Grimmie’s father, mother and brother allege wrongful death and negligent infliction of emotional distress caused from Christina’s death, saying the defendants “failed to take adequate security measures to ensure the safety of the performers and the attendees at the concert venue.”
The lawsuit claims that only “superficial bag checks” were performed on attendees, rather than any body pat downs or the use of metal detectors that would have provided some safeguard against concertgoers bringing weapons into the theater. The man who killed Grimmie, Kevin Loibl, entered the venue with two 9mm Glock handguns, two full magazines and a large hunting knife, the suit states. Grimmie was shot three times before he was temporarily subdued by her brother Marcus and then took his own life.
According to the suit, Christina “provided financial support to her parents.” Her brother, Marcus, also worked as her road and co-tour manager. Also, according to the suit, the theater’s general manager of six years had been fired nine days prior to the shooting and replaced with a new general manager who had only one week’s experience working there.
“The death of Christina was caused by the negligent and culpable conduct of the defendants who failed to provide adequate security measures to protect Christina at the Plaza Live Theater on June 10, 2016,” states the suit.
Grimmie’s family requests a recovery the future support the singer would have provided to her family members, the singer’s projected income after taxes had she lived to normal life expectancy and any and all medical and funeral expenses paid. Grimmie’s parents, Albert and Tina, are also requesting damages for their mental pain and suffering from Grimmie’s death. Her brother, Marcus, is requesting compensation for the physical and emotional trauma Grimmie’s death caused, as well.
The Grimmies are requesting a jury trial.
The family lawsuit is not a surprising development. That family’s life revolved around Christina and her ambition, compounding an already unbearable loss.
Also, it’s been over six months since Christina’s murder at the hands of a deranged fan, and the Courier-Post takes another look at her death. They note that the horrific incident almost immediately receded from the news after the Pulse nightclub tragedy took place the very next night. Here’s an excerpt from the chilling account.
After the show, he got in line behind dozens of other fans who wanted to meet the vivacious 22-year-old singer. He shifted his weight back and forth. Soon, it was his turn.
Christina opened her arms to greet him with a hug. In return, he pulled out a black 9 mm glock and fired five shots, hitting her three times at point-blank range.
Mark looked up, saw Kevin with the gun and his sister falling to the ground. Another four shots sounded as Mark tackled Kevin.
Others in the theater screamed while racing for the exits. Some tripped as they ran and hurt themselves.
Mark continued to scuffle with Kevin on the floor, ripping part of his flannel shirt.
He wrestled the gun away from Kevin, just feet away from where his sister lay dying. Somehow Kevin managed to get out of Mark’s grip. He backed up against a wall and pulled out his second gun.
Mark looked up at him and thought, “this is the end.”
Kevin pushed the firearm to the side of his head and pulled the trigger.
For a second, Mark looked around.
“It was like a nightmare. Everyone was gone. I’m the only one there and I’m sitting on the floor with two bodies,” he said.
