Celebrity

The 'Work' hitmaker calls for an end to gun violence in her Instagram post while paying tribute to her cousin, who died after being shot multiple times.

• Dec 28, 2017

AceShowbiz - Rihanna is mourning the death of her cousin, who was killed a day after they celebrated Christmas together. On Tuesday, December 26, the Barbadian singer took to Instagram to pay tribute to her cousin and subsequently call for an end to gun violence.

"RIP cousin," she wrote, while sharing several pictures with her 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 added the hashtag #endgunviolence.

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! 😢🙏🏿❤ #endgunviolence

Sebuah kiriman dibagikan oleh badgalriri (@badgalriri) pada 26 Des 2017 jam 7:16 PST

Rih also posted on her Instagram Stories on Tuesday night, "Rest up lil cuz."

While Rihanna didn't mention her cousin's name, local Barbadian news station Nation News reported that the victim was 21-year-old Tavon Kaiseen Alleyne. Tavon was walking by a track near his home in St. Michael, Barbados when he was shot multiple times by a man on Tuesday around 7 P.M. local time. He was rushed to hospital, where he was pronounced dead. The shooter fled the scene and authorities are still searching for the suspect.

Rihanna was pretty close with her cousin Tavon. On her 29th birthday in February, he posted a birthday message for her. "Every day we are happy to have you in our lives," he wrote. "Your presence in my life is a source of joy and happiness."

While it appeared that Rihanna was back in her homeland for Christmas, it remains to be seen where and with whom she will ring in the new year. The 29-year-old singer has been dating Toyota heir and Saudi businessman Hassan Jameel since summer this year.

While they were rarely seen together lately, she recently sparked rumors that she got engaged to her boyfriend after she flashed a massive diamond ring on that finger. The "B***h Better Have My Money" hitmaker rocked the new accessory when leaving Madison Square Garden in New York City after watching Chris Rock's stand-up performance earlier this month.