Two days after spending Christmas with her cousin, Rihanna is now mourning him after he was shot to death in Barbados.
The 29-year-old singer and rapper shared a series of Instagram photos with her 21-year-old cousin, Tavon Kaiseen Alleyn, on Tuesday night. In the post, she called out for an end to gun violence.
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“RIP cousin… can’t believe it was just last night that I held you in my arms! never thought that would be the last time I felt the warmth in your body!!! Love you always man!” she wrote, adding the hashtag #endgunivolence.
According to a local Barbadian news service, Alleyn was shot by a gunman several times while he was walking through the St. Michael area of the island around 7 p.m. Tuesday night.
Preliminary investigations revealed that Alleyne was walking through a track in the area of his house when he was approached by a man who shot him multiple times before fleeing the scene.
He was rushed to Queen Elizabeth Hospital where he later succumbed to his injuries.
Rhianna later added a memorial panel to her Instagram Stories, with a black background, adding his handle, @merka_95.
“Rest up lil cuz,” she wrote, with emojis of praying hands, a crying face and a broken heart.
Alleyne’s Instagram account featured images of Rihanna, including one in which he wished her a happy birthday in February.
“Every day we are happy to have you in our lives. Happy Birthday cousin, we really love you. Your presence in my life is a source of joy and happiness. To my favorite cousin, may all your dreams and wishes come true,” he wrote, adding the hashtags #LoveYouLoads and #wishyoumanymoretocome.
Police are currently searching the island for the shooter, and have asked anyone with information to contact the District A Police Station, Crime Stoppers or the nearest police station.
Earlier this month, Barbados police said there had been a significant increase in gun-related crimes on the island compared to 2016. Of the 28 murders committed so far this year, 22 were gun-related, the Daily Mail reports.
