Police were searching Saturday for the person responsible for the late-night shooting behind a Lenox Avenue housing complex.
NEW YORK — A 35-year-old man was killed and two other people were wounded when gunfire broke out at a Harlem basketball court late Friday, according to police.
Officers responded at about 10:23 p.m. to reports of shots fired behind 70 Lenox Ave. They found three wounded people at the court: a 35-year-old man, a 28-year-old man and a 22-year-old woman, police said.
The oldest victim had been shot in the head and was taken to a hospital in critical condition. He was later pronounced dead. Police identified him Saturday as Kinu Rochford of Brooklyn.
The 28-year-old man was shot in the shin, while the woman was wounded in her right forearm, according to police. Both were taken to a hospital and listed in stable condition.
The shooting occurred during a basketball tournament that draws neighborhood residents during the summer, according to people who live nearby. Authorities had not said whether any of the three victims were participating in the tournament or watching from the court.
Police had not released a description of the shooter or said how many people may have fired weapons. Investigators also had not disclosed whether the victims were deliberately targeted.
A neighborhood resident who asked not to be identified said the violence was especially upsetting because the tournament was meant to provide a place for people to gather and enjoy the summer.
“It’s completely disheartening,” the resident said. “It’s supposed to be the summer and you’re having fun, it’s a tournament and you can’t even do that because you’re worried about getting shot.”
Crime scene investigators examined the court and collected evidence after the shooting. Authorities had not announced any arrests as of Saturday, and the events leading to the gunfire remained under investigation.
Author note: Last updated July 11, 2026.