Photo courtesy NBC
Singer and former The Voice contestant Christina Grimmie has died, her publicist has confirmed.
The 22-year-old was shot by an unidentified assailant Friday night as she signing autographs after her show at the Plaza Live in Orlando.
According to police, the gunman approached Grimmie and shot her before being tackled by the singer's brother. The suspect then shot and killed himself.
Grimmie was taken to a local Orlando hospital in critical condition, but shortly after 3 a.m. EST on Saturday morning, her publicist confirmed the singer had passed.
"It is with a heavy heart that we can confirm that Christina has passed and went home to be with the Lord," her rep said in a statement. "She was shot at her show in Orlando and, unfortunately, didn't survive the gun shot wounds. We ask at this time that you respect the privacy of her family and friends in their time of mourning."
Before appearing on The Voice in 2014, Grimmie built up a devoted online fanbase, which helped propel her to third place on the singing competition.
In addition to her singing abilities, Grimmie was known for faithfully interacting with her fans and frequently sharing positive messages.
In a 2011 interview with Variance, she explained how she maintains a positive outlook on life despite being in the very rocky music industry: "You've got to stay true to yourself," she said. "That's the most important thing."
Update (June 11, 5 p.m. EST): Orlando police have identified the shooter as 27-year-old Kevin James Loibl, who traveled from St. Petersburg, Florida, to Orlando.
(Story updated following a statement from Christina Grimmie's representative.)