A 15-year-old Ghanaian boy, Javits Frimpong, has lost his life after being shot while on his way to school in the Bronx, New York.
The incident occurred around 9:30 a.m. on Thursday, October 29, near Crotona Park, where the teenager was shot in the stomach.
According to police, Javits managed to run about a block before collapsing. He was rushed to a hospital, where he later passed away
Investigators are searching for three teenage boys who reportedly fled the scene wearing black clothing and blue surgical masks. No arrests have been announced.
The victim’s father, Thomas Frimpong, believes the incident may be connected to bullying his son had experienced at school.
Speaking to ABC7 New York, the grieving father revealed that the school’s principal had informed him just three days earlier that two students had been suspended for bullying Javits.
“The principal told me Javits is innocent. Javits is innocent. He was defending himself,” he said.
Thomas explained that he brought his son from Ghana to live with him in New York about a year ago, while the boy’s mother remained in Ghana.
He described Javits as a quiet and intelligent child who rarely spent time outside their home.
“My son was precious, very clever,” he said.
The father, who works as a taxi driver, recalled that his final words to his son that morning were a reminder to get to school on time.
The incident has sparked outrage among residents of the Crotona Park neighbourhood, with community members calling for stronger measures to address youth violence.
Police are continuing their investigation, although they have not established whether the shooting was connected to the reported bullying.
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