Rihanna’s cousin was reportedly gunned down on the island of Barbados just hours after the two spent Christmas Day together.
The 29-year-old Barbados-born singer expressed her grief on Instagram and posted a series of photographs of her and 21-year-old Tavon Kaiseen Alleyne together.
“RIP cousin... can’t believe it was just last night that I held you in my arms!” she wrote.
Alleyne, 21, was walking near his home in the St. Michael district of the holiday island at around 7 p.m. local time on Tuesday, Dec. 26, when an unknown attacker walked up to him and shot him multiple times, Nation News reported.
“Never thought that would be the last time I felt the warmth in your body!!! Love you always man!” Rihanna wrote to her 59 million Instagram followers.
Rihanna posted photos and a message on Instagram Tuesday Dec. 26, saying her cousin Tavon Alleyne had been killed just one day after the two spent Christmas together in Barbados. (Screenshot via Instagram/Rihanna)
The heartbroken Rihanna also added the hashtag “#endgunviolence” at the end of her post.
(Screenshot via Instagram/Rihanna)
Rihanna also shared a series of photographs of herself posing with Alleyne.
According to Nation News, preliminary findings of the investigation show that Alleyne, of Lakes Close, Eden Lodge, St. Michael, Barbados was “walking through a track in the area of his house” when he was shot multiple times by an unknown assailant.
The attacker then reportedly fled the scene.
Barbados is an eastern Caribbean island and an independent British Commonwealth nation. (Screenshot via Google Maps)
(Screenshot via Google Maps)
Alleyne was rushed to Queen Elizabeth Hospital and was later pronounced dead.
Rihanna added a memorial panel for her slain cousin via the handle "merka_95". (Screenshot via Instagram/Rihanna)
Rihanna added a memorial panel to her post, with the handle “merka_95” featuring images of her cousin. Condolences are pouring in.
The eight-time Grammy winner often returns to her hometown in Barbados to spend time with family.
A police manhunt is underway for the shooter, and the authorities are calling on anyone with information to notify them and help catch Alleyne’s killer.
Tom Ozimek is a senior reporter for The Epoch Times. He has a broad background in journalism, deposit insurance, marketing and communications, and adult education.
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