'He was an awesome, enthusiastic kid.' Haverstraw man shot and killed in car outside Haverstraw home

James King told News 12 he was on the road in his semi-truck near Portland, Oregon when his daughter called him from Haverstraw to tell him that his son, Muhssia King, was shot and killed.

Ben Nandy

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Sep 10, 2025, 10:25 PM

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Updated 6 hr ago

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Family and friends of a 22-year-old shot and killed in his car in Haverstraw made an emotional plea to the public Wednesday to help find his killer.

"It's a tragic loss I have to deal with as a father," James King, the victim's father said. "I loved him dearly. He was an awesome, enthusiastic kid."

James King told News 12 he was on the road in his semi-truck near Portland, Oregon when his daughter called him from Haverstraw to tell him that his son, Muhssia King, was shot and killed.

Relatives said King had just driven home to Clover Avenue from work just after 8:30 p.m. Tuesday and was still in the driver's seat sending a text message when he was shot several times.

In surveillance video from Tuesday evening shared by neighbors, several shots can be heard echoing through the neighborhood.

His family said the 22-year-old loved to dance and especially loved football.

He was a defensive back for the North Rockland High School Red Raiders, played some college-level football and was considering a career in sports medicine.

"I ask for support from my community to bring these suspects to justice," James King said. "No ifs, ands or buts about it."

Haverstraw police and Rockland County Sheriff's deputies spent much of Wednesday searching for evidence in nearby yards and alleys, deploying drones and using metal detectors.

A witness of the aftermath told News 12 Tuesday night he saw two men dressed in all black running through backyards.

"I grew up down the street. It's disheartening," neighbor Joey DeFreese said, tearing up, looking from his front porch across the Clover Avenue where King was killed.

DeFreese said he will never forget coming outside to hear Muhssia yelling out in pain.

"To hear how distraught that man was, it made me sad," DeFreese said.

Several neighbors were curious as to how concerned they should be for their own safety since no suspects have been arrested nor described.

Haverstraw police said late Wednesday they have not determined a motive, nor how many people they are looking for in connection to the shooting.

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