‘American Idol’ Winner Fantasia Barrino’s Nephew Shot Dead During a Dispute in Greensboro

Fantasia Barrino performs during the VH1 Hip Hop Honors: All Hail The Queens at David Geffen Hall on July 11, 2016, in New York City. (Theo Wargo/Getty Images for VH1)

A teenager who was fatally shot on Tuesday morning, Feb. 13 has been identified by police as the nephew of “American Idol” winner Fantasia Barrino.

Tyquan Von Ricco Washington, 18, was found suffering from gunshot wounds outside 702 Hyde Drive in Greensboro, North Carolina, according to local police. He was later pronounced dead at Moses Cone Hospital.

Police said David White Jr., 21, has been charged with first-degree murder for killing Washington and is being held in the Guilford County Jail without bond.

Investigators believe that the shooting followed an argument between the two men.

Washington’s devastated father Ricco Barrino, a recording artist, shared a heartfelt message on Instagram, which he called, “A love letter to my son.”

He started the letter writing, “dear son I needed to write this sooner but it’s funny how life makes 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.”

He remembered holding his son as a baby and reminisced about the times he took him to his first gymnastics class.

“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,” Barrino, whose real name is Kassim Vonricco Washington, said in the emotive post.

Ricco Barrino said he knew that his son had been in trouble, but was turning his life around said Barrino’s manager as reported by  WGN-TV.

He ended the message with the words, “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”

Washington is the oldest nephew of Fantasia Barrino, also from High Point. She won a Grammy for her single “Bittersweet” and won the third season of “American Idol” in 2004.

The singer shared an old family photo and a tribute message for her nephew on Instagram on Tuesday.

“Ty Auntie is So Sorry Baby” she wrote next to a crying face and broken heart emoji. “RIP to my Oldest Nephew Please Pray for his Mother and my Brother @riccobarrino & his Stepdad.”

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