Rihanna's cousin has been shot dead in Barbados just hours after they spent Christmas Day together.

The 29-year-old singer posted a series of photos of her and Tavon Kaiseen Alleyne together and called for an end to gun crime as she mourned his death.

Alleyne, 21, was walking through a track in the St Michael's area of the holiday island at around 7pm on Tuesday night when he was approached by a man and shot several times.

'RIP cousin... can't believe it was just last night that I held you in my arms!' the heartbroken Wild Thoughts singer wrote to her 59million Instagram followers. 

'Never thought that would be the last time I felt the warmth in your body!!! Love you always man!' 

'I’m so sorry to hear about what happened,' one fan wrote, adding 'my thoughts and heart are with you and your family now, I love you so so much.'

Another chimed in, 'You have always been there for us @rihanna, so let us be there for you in return.

'We are a family and if a member of our family is bad we all sum it up. RIP to your cousin #EndGunViolence! We are with you my love, we love you RiRi,' adding the hashtag, '#StayStrongRihanna.'

The singer had previously taken to social media over the Christmas holiday, showing off her fabulous form in a red gown by designer Christopher Kane amid a winter cold.

She said, 'When you sick af but yo friend let you wear his dress,' in a caption on the post, later adding in her Instagram Stories, '1st day of Christmas $anta gave to me: the cold!!!'