Rihanna Wants To End Gun Violence After The Tragic Death Of Her Cousin
Tuesday was an emotional day for singer and songwriter Rihanna. Just mere hours after celebrating Christmas Day, Rihanna got the tragic news that her cousin was shot and killed in Barbados.
Rihanna's cousin, Tavon Kaiseen Allenye, was walking in the St Michael's area around 7 p.m. on Tuesday, Dec. 26, when an unidentified man opened fire several times. Although Allenye was rushed to the hospital shortly after the incident, he later died from his injuries.
The Grammy award-winning singer paid tribute to Allenye on Instagram by posting a series of photos of him while calling for an end to gun crime in the country.
Rihanna And Tavon's Relationship
“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,” Rihanna's post reads.
Rihanna and Allenye were very close and had a great relationship. In February, Allenye took to Instagram to post a picture of himself and Rihanna with a heartfelt birthday message.
"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. #LoveYouLoads #wishyoumanymoretocome," Allenye captioned the photo.
Celebrities Speak Out Against Gun Violence
Rihanna isn't the first celebrity to voice her opinion on gun violence. After the Las Vegas shooting in October, celebrities like Kim Kardashian West made it clear that there should be stricter gun laws. In June 2017, to mark the National Gun Violence Awareness Day, Kardashian also made an appeal to protect children.
British journalist and television personality Piers Morgan also took to Twitter to speak his thoughts about the Las Vegas mass shooting that occurred in October.
"UK very strict gun control, 32 gun deaths a year. US, very lax gun control, 32,000 gun deaths a year," Morgan tweeted.
Gun crime is reportedly rampant in Barbados these days. The police confirmed a significant increase and that 22 out of 28 murders are gun-related incidents.
Police are currently on the hunt for the shooter and urge anyone with information to contact Crime Stoppers or the District A Police Station in Barbados.
