A 15-year-old Ghanaian teenager, identified as Javits Frimpong, has been shot dead while walking to school in the Bronx borough of New York, United States, prompting calls for justice from his family and Ghanaian officials.
Frimpong was shot in the abdomen shortly before 9:30 a.m. on Thursday, October 29, near East 171st Street and Crotona Place in the Claremont neighbourhood, according to the New York Police Department (NYPD).
He was taken to St. Barnabas Hospital, where he was later pronounced dead.
Police are searching for three male suspects believed to be between 16 and 18 years old. The suspects were reportedly dressed in black clothing and wearing blue surgical masks. No arrests had been announced as of Saturday, October 31, and investigators had yet to establish the motive for the shooting.
The teenager’s father, Thomas Frimpong, said his son had moved from Ghana to the United States about a year ago to live with him.
He told CBS News that he learnt about the shooting after receiving a call from the principal of DreamYard Preparatory School, where his son was a student.
The grieving father also alleged that his son had experienced bullying at school before his death. According to him, two students had previously been involved in an altercation with Javits and were suspended following the incident.
He further claimed that his son later complained that another student continued to harass him during lunch breaks, despite reporting the matter.
However, police have not confirmed any connection between the alleged bullying and the fatal shooting. The circumstances surrounding the attack remain under investigation.
Frimpong’s death has sparked grief within the Bronx community and among members of the Ghanaian community in the United States. Residents and community leaders have called for justice and raised concerns about the safety of young people.
Ghana’s Foreign Affairs Minister, Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa, condemned the killing and pledged that Ghanaian officials would work with American authorities to pursue justice. Ghanaian diplomatic representatives have also been involved in supporting the bereaved family.
In a further development on Saturday, New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani announced that US President Donald Trump had agreed to grant an immediate visa to Javits’ mother, who remains in Ghana, so she could travel to New York to mourn her son in person.
Mamdani said he had spoken with Trump about the matter. The White House had not independently confirmed the reported visa arrangement at the time of the announcement.
The NYPD has appealed to anyone with information about the shooting to contact its Crime Stoppers hotline as investigations continue.
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