Shooting at Harlem Basketball Tournament

A shooting incident at the Kingdom Basketball Tournament in Harlem late Friday night resulted in the death of one player and injuries to two spectators. The victim, Kinu Rochford, 35, was reportedly shot while watching the game during breaks between matches.

Despite the life-saving efforts of first responders, Rochford was taken to the hospital but did not survive his injuries. Additionally, a 28-year-old man and a 22-year-old woman who were present in the crowd were also shot, though their injuries were deemed non-life-threatening.

Rochford was a former player at Fairleigh Dickinson University, which expressed its condolences on social media: “FDU is shocked to hear of the tragic passing of former men’s basketball player Kinu Rochford (’13). An outstanding knight and leader, Mr. Rochford built a legacy at Hackensack.”

Local residents expressed their dismay at the incident, with one noting, “It’s totally disappointing. We live in a world where gun violence is rampant…and to be here – it’s summer and it’s supposed to be fun. It’s a tournament, and you can’t enjoy it because you’re worried about getting shot.”

According to Everytown for Gun Safety Research, New York has some of the strictest gun laws in the country, ranking fourth overall. These laws include various measures such as red flag laws, restrictions on concealed carry permits, and regulations on gun storage. Additionally, there are bans on certain types of weapons and magazine capacities, along with microstamping requirements for new handguns.

The NRA-ILA highlighted that New York state mandates a permit for purchasing and registering handguns.