UPDATED: New Jersey native, ‘The Voice’ alum killed by gunman

In this June 29

In this June 29

A former contestant on NBC’s “The Voice” has been killed in Florida.

Authorities say Christina Grimmie was signing autographs after a show at The Plaza Live in Orlando late Friday night when a gunman opened fire. Police say Grimmie’s brother immediately tackled the gunman, who then shot and killed himself during the struggle.

A concert fan who was outside the Orlando venue says she at first thought the “pops” she heard were balloons until people ran out of The Plaza Live venue screaming. Kaitlin Martin said Saturday that security workers ran out of the building screaming at people to leave since a gunman had fired shots inside the concert venue.

Orlando Police Chief John Mina says the 27-year-old man apparently traveled from another Florida city to the venue where Christina Grimmie was performing Friday night intending to attack the New Jersey native.

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Police say he had two guns, but no motive has been established.  They credited the singer’s brother with preventing the gunman from hurting others.

Grimmie, 22, finished third during season six of NBC’s “The Voice” in 2014.

“The Voice” said on its official Twitter page: “There are no words. We lost a beautiful soul with an amazing voice.”

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