Man killed in triple shooting at Harlem basketball court, NYPD says
A former New Jersey college basketball player was killed and two people were wounded in a shooting at an outdoor court in Harlem, the New York Police Department said.
Kinu Rochford, another man and a woman were shot at around 10:30 p.m. Friday at the basketball court behind 70 Lenox Ave., between 112th Street and 115th, according to the NYPD.
It happened while Kingdome, a summer basketball tournament, was taking place.
No arrests have been made as of Sunday morning.
Suspect wanted in deadly shooting
Officers said they found Rochford, 35, in critical condition with a gunshot wound to the head. A 28-year-old man was also shot in the shin and a 22-year-old woman was shot in the right forearm.
Rochford, of Brooklyn, was pronounced dead at Mount Sinai Morningside, police said.
The other man and woman were hospitalized in stable condition and are expected to be OK, according to police. Their names were not released.
It was not immediately known what led to the shooting. The NYPD said the investigation was ongoing.
Anyone with any information is asked to call the NYPD's Crime Stoppers hotline at 1-800-577-TIPS (8477), or for Spanish, 1-888-57-PISTA (74782). You can also submit a tip via their website or via DM on Twitter, @NYPDTips. All calls are kept confidential.
Kinu Rochford remembered
Rochford's grieving mother, Eden Rochford, told CBS News New York she went to the hospital after learning her son had been shot.
"The doctor was standing out there and I said, 'Can I go in and see him?' And he told me yeah," she said. "And I went in and saw him. It was my Kinu."
Eden Rochford said her son was a triplet and was born in Brooklyn. She described him as kind, respectful, fun and loved by everyone who knew him.
"He was a joy, and he'll always be a joy," she said. "I keep saying, like, maybe he's going to walk through the door, but I know he's not going to walk through the door. All I can do is leave it in God's hands."
She said he always dreamed of playing basketball since he was a child.
"He just loved basketball. He graduated from college, he went overseas and played ball," she said, "and now in the summertime, he just plays in the summer tournaments. Unfortunately, he was in the wrong place yesterday."
Win, a New York City nonprofit that provides shelter and supportive housing for families experiencing homelessness, said Kinu Rochford worked as an intake coordinator at a Brooklyn shelter and was working toward becoming a housing coordinator within the organization.
Christine C. Quinn, the organization's president and CEO, released the following statement:
"Today, the Win family is mourning the loss of one of our own — Kinu A Rochford. Kinu was a beloved friend, colleague, and father to a young son who dedicated his life to serving others. He went above and beyond his duties as a Win coordinator, helping New Yorkers most in need find the path and will to build a brighter future. Kinu lived with purpose and his passion for helping others reached far beyond his role at Win, especially through his work across the city with children. He was the kind of person who makes New York City great, and this loss is unfathomable. We must put an end to senseless gun violence plaguing our city and country. Kinu's friends and families are in our hearts during this tragic time."
Kinu Rochford was a former college basketball player at Fairleigh Dickinson University, according to the school. He later played professionally overseas.
"FDU is devastated to hear of the tragic passing of former men's basketball player Kinu Rochford ('13). A standout Knight and leader, Rochford built a legacy in Hackensack. He was 35 years old," the FDU Knights said in an Instagram post.
New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani said in a post on X that he was "heartbroken" for Kinu Rochford's family.
"We are working closely with our community partners to provide services to those affected and the entire community. Our administration is using every lever across agencies to prevent further violence and ensure all New Yorkers can safely enjoy the city this summer," he wrote in part.
Last summer, four people were arrested following a fatal shooting during a community basketball game at Haffen Park in the Bronx. One person was killed and several were injured.
