A modest crowd gathered inside a Brooklyn mosque on a crisp Saturday morning, the air heavy with sorrow as hundreds of friends, family members, and community leaders came together to bid farewell to Kinu Rochford, the former college standout whose life was cut short just weeks earlier.
A community in mourning
Rochford, who once dazzled fans playing for Fairleigh Dickinson University and later pursued a professional career across Europe, was remembered not only for his athletic gifts but also for the humility and kindness he brought to every locker room.
The tragedy unfolded during a basketball tournament in Harlem, where a gunman’s bullet struck Rochford in the head while he was watching the game with his young son; two other bystanders were also wounded and rushed to the hospital, though their injuries were reported as stable.
Speakers at the service painted a portrait of a gentle giant — a devoted brother, a mentor to younger players, and a tireless advocate for those without shelter, recalling how he would light up a room with his smile and how his work with the nonprofit Win had changed lives.
His brother, Malik Jenkins, described him as a wonderful sibling who always brought people together, while longtime friend Moses Wheeler spoke of Rochford’s unwavering loyalty, calling him a brother both on and off the court.
The NYPD has yet to make any arrests and has not released a description of the suspect, leaving the community to grapple with the unanswered question of who would target a man celebrated for his generosity and sportsmanship.