Honor Student Fatally Shot on Basketball Court in Brooklyn Loved the Sport, Dad Says

A 16-year-old boy shot dead on a basketball court in Brooklyn was a “highly intelligent” kid who loved the sport, his father said.

Timothy Oyebola, of Queens, was shot in the head while playing basketball on a court behind P.S. 396 in Brownsville after school on Friday.

His father, David Oyebola, remembered him as a calm, focused student.

“My son is highly intelligent, God-fearing… very focused. He loved basketball,” he said. “They cut his life short. They cut his life short." 

Police say Timothy wasn’t the intended target of the shooting.

“He was a really good kid,” NYPD Chief Michael Kemper said. “This is a very unfortunate act.”

Timothy’s father said he’d asked him to stop playing basketball. “‘What are you getting from it?’” he recalled asking his son.

But the honor-roll student said he didn’t want to give up the sport.

“‘No, no, I love basketball, dad, I will not disappoint you. I am good in my academics,’” his father recalled Timothy saying.

Police are now searching for two men who were seen fleeing the scene after the shooting. On Saturday, they were posting fliers seeking the killer.

Timothy’s father hopes police will be able to find whoever shot Timothy.

“I want justice to be done. I want them to find that person,” he said. “I want them to find that person.”