'He wanted to do good things': Community gathers at Wingate Park to remember man who was fatally shot

Police say Senyo Toponwey was shot and killed during an assault on Church Avenue and East 32nd Street.

News 12 Staff

Jun 1, 2021, 10:01 PM

Updated 1,224 days ago

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Family and friends of Senyo Toponwey gathered Tuesday to honor his memory after he was shot and killed during an assault on May 19 at Wingate Park. 
Police say he was shot and killed during an assault on Church Avenue and East 32nd Street. 
Police say they found him on the ground with a gunshot wound to the chest.
He was pronounced dead at the hospital, according to police. The community says Toponwey worked with kids and shared a love for basketball. 
His friends and loved ones had a park cleanup in his memory as part of “It’s My Park Day.” 
They say he loved to play basketball with kids at the park. 
This is all part of their Stop Gun and Gang Violence campaign. They say they are praying for safer communities. 
They say Topenwey was also called “Coach Two-Step.”
"Two-step was a pillar of our community. He was a young man, he loved the basketball court, he loved doing things for the children. He wanted to do good things for the community. I spoke to him a few days before he transitioned, and it hurt my heart to know that he had so many dreams and so many things he wanted to do that were cut short,” said Vivia Morgan. 
Friends and family tell News 12 he wanted to have a basketball tournament this summer to bring different groups together from the city. 
They say they are going to continue plans for the tournament in his memory.