Mount Vernon High School to Host Benefit Game in Memory of Shamoya McKenzie

MOUNT VERNON, NY — Mount Vernon High School will host a memorial varsity basketball doubleheader against Scarsdale High School Friday in memory of Shamoya McKenzie, a Graham School eighth-grader who was killed on New Year’s Eve by an errant bullet.

The boys’ varsity basketball game will begin at 4:15 p.m. in the high school, followed by the girls’ varsity game.

All donations will be given directly to the McKenzie family, organizers said.

McKenzie was a member of the high school’s junior varsity basketball team. Her goal was to become a member of Mount Vernon’s varsity team, attend the University of Connecticut and play for the WNBA.

Mount Vernon officials called McKenzie a peacekeeper, noting her love of her community.

At her wake, Mount Vernon School District Superintendent Dr. Kenneth P. Hamilton said: “I have to have some solace in believing she had a purpose; a purpose to serve as an ambassador to peace. Her death must not be in vain.”

The Madison Square Garden Street Team will be on hand with promotional materials and giveaway.

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Police say David Hardy, the Mount Vernon 21-year-old accused of killing McKenzie by mistake during an alleged gang hit, was intending to kill Prince Scott, another passenger in her mom's car. He fired the 9 mm gun multiple times.

Family and friends have set up a GoFundMe account to help the family.