Rihanna Mourns Cousin Who Was Killed by Gun Violence
Rihanna is currently mourning her cousin, who was reportedly killed in Barbados. The singer-songwriter took to Instagram on Tuesday (December 26) to share photos of the two of them together, along with a sobering and heartfelt message.
“RIP cousin… can’t believe it was just last night that I held you in my arms!” Rihanna wrote. “Never thought that would be the last time I felt the warmth in your body!!! Love you always man!” She ended the post with an important hashtag: #EndGunViolence, signifying that he died from gunshot wounds.
As noted by the BBC, Rihanna didn’t name her cousin, though she did tag him in the photos. Local Barbadian news station Nation News identified him as 21-year-old Tavon Kaiseen Alleyne. According to the outlet, Tavon was walking near his home when he was approached by a man who reportedly shot him multiple times. The suspect allegedly fled the scene, and although Tavon was rushed to the hospital, he later died from his injuries. Nation News adds that police are currently seeking further information about the shooting and have asked community members to help with their investigation.
It’s clear that Tavon will be mourned by his friends and family, and Rihanna’s post has already resonated with a lot of her fans. “Please let his soul rest in peace,” one fan commented, adding: “My deepest condolences to you and your family.” Another Instagram user wrote: “I know how it feels. There is no farewell worse than the one that never had an explanation.”
The BBC reports that Barbados has seen a rise in gun violence recently—a trend that has been confirmed by local police. Sadly, the United States is also no stranger to gun violence; EveryTown reports that an average of 93 Americans are killed by guns every day, and for every one person killed by a gun, two more are injured. However, there are ways to get involved in the conversation about gun violence, and there are things you can do to help, like contacting your local representatives or joining an activist group. With more people taking action, hopefully the incidents of gun violence will someday be reduced, and there will be less families mourning their loved ones like Rihanna is doing today.
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