Toni Braxton 'in Disbelief' after Death of Niece Lauren, 24

Toni Braxton is reeling from the death of her niece. A couple of days after her passing, the singer penned a heartbreaking message revealing her shock and distress.

Following news of her niece’s passing, Toni Braxton took to her social media to express her “disbelief.”

AN UNTIMELY DEMISE

Lauren Braxton, the daughter of Toni’s only brother, Michael Conrad Braxton, Jr., died at the age of 24 on April 29. She passed out in her mother’s kitchen in Maryland. According to her father, she had a heart condition that caused her death.

Lauren was with a friend who stepped out of the kitchen for ten minutes and discovered her unresponsive on the floor when she returned. Paramedics who responded to the 911 call pronounced her dead shortly after.

“I’m still in disbelief and so very heartbroken."

HEARTBREAK AND DISBELIEF

It took a couple of days for Toni to speak up about her niece’s death but when she did, it was to express her shock and heartbreak.

“R.I.P to my amazing niece Lauren “Lo Lo” Braxton...,” she wrote. “I’m still in disbelief and so very heartbroken Love you...always auntie “Te Te”

The singer’s message accompanied a 2016 photo of her wrapped in Lauren’s embrace.

"LoLo was more than my niece, she was my daughter"

MORE THAN A NIECE

Lauren, who’s fondly called LoLo, is reportedly close to Traci Braxton’s son, Kevin, Jr. Traci was one of the first family members to break their silence in the heels of the death of the 24-year-old who refers to her as her mother. In a statement to TMZ, she said,

"LoLo was more than my niece, she was my daughter; and I, my son and husband are truly heartbroken over her passing."

Her sister, Trina Braxton, also paid tribute to Lauren through a tweet.

"God sent me another angel! Rest in Heaven Lauren "LoLo" Braxton."

The Braxtons, through their representative, asked for privacy as they grieved for the first death in their family.