A former college basketball star was gunned down in broad daylight on a Harlem basketball court Friday night, the victim of a triple shooting that authorities believe may have stemmed from a heated dispute over a gambling bet – and the entire horrifying incident was captured on video.
Kena Rochford, 35, a former standout forward for Fairleigh Dickinson University who later played professionally overseas, was shot in the head during a summer tournament known as “Kingdom” at 70 Lenox Avenue. He was pronounced dead at Harlem Hospital. Two other people were wounded: a 28-year-old man shot in the leg and a 22-year-old woman hit in the arm.
Both are expected to survive.
Police say the gunman fled the scene and remains on the loose. No arrests have been made and no motive has been officially confirmed, but multiple attendees and online commentators have told reporters the violence erupted over a disputed wager related to the game. “Everybody saw it.
Nobody says they saw it,” one witness told a local news crew.
Rochford’s mother, wiping tears from her eyes, described the moment she learned her son had been killed. “My sister screamed out. I said, ‘Kena got shot.’
And she told me he dead. I went in and saw him. It was my Kena.”
She said her son was the kind of man who “loved everyone and everyone loved him.”
Born in Brooklyn on October 26, 1990, Rochford was one of triplets. He attended James Madison High School, where he averaged 10 points and 10 rebounds as a senior. After playing two years at Globe Institute of Technology – where he earned Region XV Player of the Year honors – he transferred to Fairleigh Dickinson.
In his senior season with the Knights, he averaged 14. 7 points and 8. 9 rebounds per game, establishing himself as one of the top players in the Northeast Conference.
Following college, he played professionally in Europe, returning to New York each summer to compete in the city’s storied streetball leagues. He also worked as a coordinator at WIN, a homeless service provider in New York City. The organization’s founder and CEO called him “a beloved friend, colleague, and father to a young son who dedicated his life to serving others.”
The shooting occurred around 10:30 p. m. on July 10, 2026.
Chopper 2 footage showed police and emergency vehicles swarming the court. Investigators from the NYPD are combing through cellphone videos taken by spectators that appear to show the moments before and after the shots were fired. “We have video evidence that clearly shows the incident,” a police spokesperson said.
“We are asking anyone with information to come forward.”
Mayor Mamdani issued a statement saying, “I am heartbroken for the family of the man who was killed. Our administration is using every lever across agencies to prevent further violence and ensure all New Yorkers can safely enjoy the city.” The mayor also urged anyone with knowledge of the shooting to contact the NYPD’s Crime Stoppers hotline.
The incident has sent shockwaves through New York’s basketball community. Streetball leagues like the Rucker Park tournament and the Goodman League in Washington D. C.
– where Rochford also played – are mourning the loss of a player who “brought joy every time he stepped on the court,” one organizer said. “This is a tragic reminder that even the game we love can turn deadly when people lose control.”
Rochford’s mother recalled her son’s passion for basketball, which began when he was about 15. “I used to go play with my brother and sister. I took a liking to it.
It wasn’t just the sport; it was being with them,” she said. She described him as a hard worker, inspired by Dennis Rodman, who respected everyone he met. “He would talk to disabled people first before anyone else.
He was that kind of guy.”
The victim’s former team, Fairleigh Dickinson, posted on social media: “FDU is devastated to hear of the tragic passing of former men’s basketball player Kena Rochford, a standout knight and leader.” Alumni and fans have been sharing memories of his tenacity on the court and his gentle demeanor off it.
As the investigation continues, police are exploring the possibility that the shooter was a participant in the tournament who became enraged over a disputed pot of money. “It’s heartbreaking because all these games have a culture of betting, and when money gets involved, tempers flare,” said a longtime referee at the tournament. “But nobody imagined this.”
The wounded victims are being treated at local hospitals. The 28-year-old man suffered a gunshot wound to the chin; the 22-year-old woman was hit in the arm. Both are in stable condition and have been cooperating with police.
Authorities have not released their names.
Rochford’s mother said she is struggling to come to terms with the loss. “I keep saying maybe he’s going to walk through the door, but I know he’s not going to walk through the door.” She urged anyone with information to come forward.
“If you know who did this, please say something. My son didn’t deserve to die this way.”
The video of the shooting, which has circulated online, shows a chaotic scene: players and fans scrambling as shots ring out. Rochford is seen collapsing to the ground. The clip has been used by police to identify potential witnesses, but so far no one has provided the name of the gunman.
Community leaders are calling for an end to the culture of violence that has infiltrated street basketball. “When you have a game that’s supposed to bring people together, and one bad apple with a gun ruins it for everyone, we all lose,” said Pastor Michael Jones of a Harlem church that runs youth basketball programs. “We need to find this killer and we need to send a message that this will not be tolerated.”
Police are offering a reward of up to $10,000 for information leading to an arrest. “This was a brazen act in a crowded public space,” said NYPD Chief of Detectives. “Someone knows who pulled the trigger.
It’s time to do the right thing.”
Rochford is survived by his young son, his mother, his siblings, and a wide circle of friends and former teammates. A memorial service is being planned at a Harlem church. “He was a joy, and he’ll always be a joy,” his mother said through tears.
“I just can’t believe I have to bury my baby.”
In the meantime, the NYPD is urging anyone with information – no matter how small – to call Crime Stoppers at 1-800-577-TIPS. The investigation is ongoing.
