Targeted Attack Near Central Park: Ex-Pro Basketball Player Shot Dead, 2 Injured in Harlem
the staff of the Ridgewood blog
Teaneck NJ, A devastating tragedy has struck the local and international sports community. Kinu Rochford, a 35-year-old former professional basketball player and collegiate standout at Fairleigh Dickinson University (FDU), was shot and killed on Friday, July 10, during a basketball tournament in Harlem. Multiple news outlets indicate that the shooting appeared to be a targeted attack.
Chaos on the Court Near Central Park
The NYPD responded to reports of gunfire at approximately 10:20 p.m. behind 70 Lenox Avenue on Malcolm X Boulevard—a location just two blocks north of Central Park. The shooting took place at a basketball court near a public housing complex where a tournament game was underway.
According to reports from the New York Post, the 6-foot-6 Rochford was watching between games when an apparent dispute broke out with another man.
When officers arrived at the scene, they discovered three victims:
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Kinu Rochford: Suffered a fatal gunshot wound to the head. He was rushed by EMS to Mount Sinai Morningside in critical condition, where he was tragically pronounced dead.
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A 28-year-old man: Suffered a gunshot wound to the shin.
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A 22-year-old woman: Suffered a gunshot wound to her right forearm.
Both surviving victims were transported to NYC Health + Hospitals/Harlem and remain in stable condition. As of Saturday, no arrests have been made, and the NYPD’s investigation remains ongoing.
Remembering the Legacy of Kinu Rochford
Rochford, a resident of Brooklyn, built a formidable reputation on the court both locally and abroad. He played college basketball for Globe Tech in New York before transferring to New Jersey’s Fairleigh Dickinson University, where he graduated in the Class of 2013.
Following his stellar collegiate career in Hackensack, Rochford moved overseas to play professionally across Europe, capturing championships during notable stops in Lithuania and Iceland.
The FDU Knights men’s basketball program released a heartfelt statement on Saturday morning honoring their former leader:
“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.”
A Sudden Spike in Local Violations
The shooting marks a tragic turn for the neighborhood. Prior to this incident, NYPD data for the 28th Precinct showed that shooting incidents were down year-to-date through July 5, with four victims recorded compared to six during the same timeframe in the previous year.
Anyone with information regarding the shooting or the suspect is urged to contact the NYPD Crime Stoppers hotline.
Tags & Categories
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Categories: Local News, Sports Tragedies, NY/NJ Crime Updates
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Tags:
#KinuRochford#FDUKnights#HarlemShooting#NYPDBreaking#FairleighDickinson#BrooklynBasketball#EnvrionmentCourts
