Christina Grimmie, known as a singer and alum of The Voice , is dead. Among those who witnessed the terrifying shift from normal to chaos at the concert where she was shot, some are stepping forward to describe the tragedy.
Among those who watched, terrified, was 21-year-old Karla Abel. She told People that she was at the lobby of The Plaza Live in Florida and experienced the horror .
Grimmie was meeting with fans, and it was just another seemingly normal event for the singer. She was the opening act for the band Before You Exit.
“One minute it was super normal,” recalled Karla. “The next minute, it was chaos everywhere. I’ve never been so scared.”
Abel described how Christina was relaxing with her fans.
“It was a really laid-back vibe in there,” she explained. “They had already finished performing, and she was standing by this table and signing autographs and posing for pictures. You see it all the time, and it was just a good vibe.”
Karla also noted that Grimmie was “really accessible.” The atmosphere was upbeat, with those around Christina “talking and laughing” as the crowd swarmed around her. But that positive vibe suddenly shifted into a nightmare scene as an armed man allegedly shot the singer.
“I didn’t see the guy come up to her. My back was to her at that moment. But suddenly there was this sound. I at first thought it was some sort of firecracker, or even something with the microphones inside,” explained Abel. “It took me a minute to figure out what it was. I think there were like six or seven shots. At least that’s what it sounded like to me.”
Amid the chaos that resulted, Abel observed those around her lying on the ground, trying to protect their heads. She described the scene as “terrifying.”
As she ducked and rushed through the exit doors, Karla looked back.
“I could see her feet,” added the eyewitness. “She wasn’t moving.”
Abel also observed a battle with the alleged killer. It was Grimmie’s brother, Mark, who managed to tackle the gunman, revealed police in Orlando. The gunman died after shooting himself.
Those who witnessed the chaos, including Karla, were then ushered from the situation by security people. The eyewitnesses were detained at the side of the building so that police could take their statements.
Christina was on Season 6 of The Voice . She was coached by Adam Levine, and earned third place. Her final performance at the Plaza Live has been shared on YouTube.
Another person who witnessed the murder of Grimmie also detailed what happened as the singer was giving autographs to fans, reported the Mirror .
Josh Call, a hot dog vendor, heard gunshots. He then ran into the area and saw what was happening.
The killing occurred just as Josh was closing.
“All of a sudden I hear the sounds of four really quick shots,” he recalled. “I watched for the reaction of other people.”
The hot dog vendor also recalled people rushing out or lying down on the floor to try to protect themselves. However, Call entered the room.
“I walked into the main room and there was a man doing compressions on a girl who was one of the performers. I looked over to the right and a gentleman was face down with blood everywhere and it looked like he had shot this girl and killed himself,” he explained.
As for the details of the injuries that he observed?
“Injuries you do not want to see again.”
A spokesperson released a statement about the tragedy.
“It is with a heavy heart that we can confirm that Christina has passed and went home to be with the Lord,” said the rep. “She was shot at her show in Orlando and, unfortunately, didn’t survive the gunshot wounds.”
[Photo by Stuart C. Wilson/Getty Images]