Entertainment

'We'll see her again in heaven': Candlelight vigil honours slain singer Christina Grimmie

Family, friends and fans gathered for a candlelight vigil in the New Jersey hometown of 22-year-old singer Christina Grimmie, who was shot dead over the weekend as she signed autographs for fans following a Florida concert.

Adam Levine offers to pay for funeral; hundreds mourn singer in New Jersey hometown

Hundreds of fans and family members gathered in Evesham Township, N.J., Monday night for a vigil honouring Grimmie. (Tom Gralish/Associated Press)

Family, friends and fans gathered for a candlelight vigil in the New Jersey hometown of a singer who was shot dead as she signed autographs for fans following a Florida concert.

Hundreds paid tribute to 22-year-old Christina Grimmie Monday night in Evesham Township at the town's Memorial Complex, where photos of her graced the field.

Hundreds of people gathered at the candlelight a vigil to mourn Christina Grimmie, who rose to fame during season 6 of NBC's The Voice. (Mel Evans/Associated Press)

"It doesn't seem real," close family friend Hope Compton told the Courier-Post. "But we'll see her again in heaven."

Compton told the newspaper that she flew to California to be with Grimmie's mother after the shooting and flew back with her Monday afternoon.

Marcus Grimmie speaks about his sister Christina Grimmie. He was with her when she was killed and tackled the shooter, identified as Kevin James Loibl. (Mel Evans/Associated Press)

Authorities said Grimmie was gunned down by Kevin Loibl Friday night as she signed autographs after performing at a show in Orlando. A motive for the shooting has not been determined.

Authorities said she had no personal connection to Loibl, who fatally shot himself after being tackled by her brother.

"She loved this town, Marcus Grimmie told the crowd. "She loved this state. She loved singing. She loved the Lord and she loved me. She was my baby sister."

Singer Christina Grimmie, shot to death last week after a show in Florida, will be laid to rest at a funeral near her New Jersey hometown this week. (Donn Jones/Invision/Associated Press)

Grimmie was a YouTube star who was widely known from her appearances on NBC's The Voice two years ago. She lived in Evesham, a small community about 20 miles from Philadelphia, before moving to Los Angeles in 2012.

Earlier Monday pop star Adam Levine, who mentored Grimmie when she finished third on The Voiceoffered to pay funeral expenses. Spokeswoman Carleen Donovan confirmed that Levine made the offer.

Pop star Adam Levine, who mentored Grimmie to a third-place finish on The Voice, has offered to pay her funeral expenses. (Rich Fury/Invision/Associated Press)