A 10:30 p.m. shooting behind 70 Lenox Avenue in Harlem turned a community basketball tournament into a scene of violence, leaving three participants wounded.
Kinu Rochford, a former Fairleigh Dickinson University basketball standout and coordinator for the nonprofit WIN, was pronounced dead after the gunfire, while two others survived with injuries and are reported to be in stable condition.
The incident has drawn condolences from New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani, who used his platform to denounce the scourge of gun violence and to demand swift action from city leaders.
A Community Responds
FDU Knights paid tribute on social media, recalling Rochford’s leadership on the court and his dedication to mentoring younger players, a reminder of the lasting impact he had on the university’s athletic community.
WIN, the housing provider for homeless families that employed Rochford, released a heartfelt statement mourning his loss and urging policymakers to confront the epidemic of gun violence that threatens neighborhoods across the city.
Police have not yet made any arrests, and investigators are asking anyone with information to contact the NYPD’s Crime Stoppers Hotline, hoping that tips will bring closure to the families affected.