Fantasia Barrino’s 18-year-old nephew shot and killed

R&B singer Fantasia Barrino’s teenage nephew was shot and killed Tuesday morning during a fight that turned fatal.

Tyquan Von Ricco Washington, 18, was gunned down outside an apartment building located at 702 Hyde Drive in Greensboro, North Carolina, local police confirmed.

The act of violence stemmed from an argument that took place between Washington and suspect David Lee White, Jr., 21, who has been charged with first-degree murder.

The victim was transported to the hospital after emergency officials were called to the scene.

Police say Washington was pronounced dead from multiple gunshot wounds while under care at Moses H. Cone Memorial Hospital.

The shooting suspect is currently being held at Guilford County Jail located in High Point.

Washington is the oldest nephew to 2004 American Idol winner Barrino, who was also born in High Point – a city aligned with Greensboro and Winston-Salem in Piedmont Triad, according to highpointnc.gov.

The ‘I Believe’ singer took to her Instagram page Tuesday night to pay tribute to her late nephew.

‘Ty… Auntie is so sorry baby,’ Barrino wrote next to crying face and broken heart emojis. ‘RIP to my Oldest Nephew. Please pray for his mother and my brother & his stepdad.’

Above the heartrending caption, Barrino shared a touching throwback photo of Washington, her younger nephew and herself.

Meanwhile, Barrino’s brother and father to the late teen, Ricco, shared a moving message to his page, which he called ‘a love letter to my son.’

The note read: ‘dear son I needed to write this sooner but it’s funny how life make you aware of your own unconscious procrastinations… I wanted you to know that from the depths of my heart your daddy loves you and he always has.’

Ricco reflected on pastimes with his son since he his birth, up until he grew into a young man.

‘As I write this letter with tears streaming down my face I want you to know that I showed you tough love because I knew you were something special,’ Ricco went on.

‘I’ll never forget (your 18th) birthday I was smiling from ear to ear telling everybody in the studio that my son is finally becoming a man. I wanted to be there every day for you and there wasn’t a day that went by I didn’t wonder where you were.

‘Well, on this day you became a bigger man when you put on a pair of wings and did what I have yet to do… So you show me your leadership skills… you go join hands with your grandma and kiss for me. You sing loud for me up there. Love, dad.’

Washington was also an aspiring musical artist like his aunt and father.

He reportedly completed his own mix tape just before he was killed in the senseless shooting, his father said.

Source: DailyMail (UK)