American Idol Winner Fantasia Barrino’s Nephew Killed In North Carolina Shooting Incident
American Idol alum Fantasia Barrino's nephew was fatally shot in a shooting that took place in North Carolina on Tuesday, Feb. 13.
The Shooting
Barrino's nephew, Tyquan Von Ricco Washington, was shot and killed, following an altercation outside a residential complex in the city of Greensboro, North Carolina.
Local law enforcement authorities found the 18-year-old with multiple gunshot wounds at approximately 11 a.m. on Tuesday. Emergency responders tried to revive Washington and rushed him to a nearby hospital where he succumbed to his injuries and was pronounced dead.
Police arrested David Lee White Jr, 21, in connection with Washington's shooting and have charged him with first-degree murder. He is currently being held at the Guilford County Jail.
According to White, he and Washington got into a heated argument inside the residential complex, which continued outside, until he shot Barrino's nephew dead.
It's been a tough year for the Barrino family. In October, the singer's brother, Xavier, was critically injured in a motorcycle accident. In March, Barrino was forced to cancel her tour after she suffered second-degree burns in an undisclosed accident.
Fantasia Barrino Mourns Nephew's Death
Barrino, who was crowned the winner of Season 3 of the popular reality singing competition in 2004, took to Instagram to mourn the loss of her eldest nephew with a throwback photo of Washington, his younger brother, and herself.
"Ty Auntie is So Sorry Baby," the Grammy-winning singer captioned the post. "RIP to my Oldest Nephew Please Pray for his Mother and my Brother & his Stepdad."
Barrino's brother, recording artist Ricco Barrino, whose real name is Kassim Vonricco Washington, also took to social media to pen a heartfelt letter to his late son, reflecting on the special moments he shared with him over the years.
Washington was following the footsteps of his aunt and father and was pursuing a career in music. According to Ricco, he recently finished working on his own mixtape before he was shot dead in broad daylight.
Check out Ricco and Fantasia's Instagram posts below.
Ty Auntie is So Sorry Baby RIP to my Oldest Nephew Please Pray for his Mother and my Brother @riccobarrino & his Stepdad A post shared by Fantasia Taylor (@tasiasword) on Feb 13, 2018 at 3:28pm PST
A love letter to my son. 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. I remember holding you for the first time that's when I knew that I had to do something other than work in somebody's factory so that one day you could look up to me. 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. I never forget the first time that me and your mother took you to gymnastics for tryouts. I remember the lady walking over to us and telling us that we would have to wait behind a long list of other kids lol I guess she didn't know what my kid was capable of because when she turned around she spotted you turning somersaults as if you were in the US Olympics. I remember her immediately turning around and tell us have your kid here next week! I remember your mother smiling from ear to ear because she knew that the people really didn't want you in their program until they seen what you could do. I knew you were special when you came out the womb I remember watching you run fast and play with your uncle Zay with your little plats in your hair those high cheekbones like your mother and that little raspy chuckle you used to do while you had on your number seven air Jordans that was so small they look like little lightning Rods as you ran across the floor and wrestled with your uncle. I knew you were special when all the older kids wanted to hang with you. I knew you were leader at that moment and All the way up to your first big 18th birthday. I'll never forget that 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 R.i.p T.W A post shared by Ricco Barrino Muzic (@riccobarrino) on Feb 13, 2018 at 11:09am PST
