Teenager arrested in fatal shooting of Ghanaian student Javits Frimpong in Bronx

Police arrested a 17-year-old boy in connection with the fatal shooting of 15-year-old Ghanaian teenager Javits Badu Nkansah Frimpong in the Bronx, New York. The teenager was shot dead on the morning of October 29, 2026, while walking to DreamYard Preparatory School.

The shooting occurred near East 171st Street and Crotona Place in the Claremont section shortly before 9:30 a.m. Frimpong sustained a gunshot wound to the abdomen and was taken to St. Barnabas Hospital, where he died despite emergency treatment.

“They want to know the truth about what happened to Javits, and they want an assurance that no other family will ever have to suffer the way that this family has had to suffer.”

Initial investigations indicated that three masked individuals were involved in the attack and fled the scene. Surveillance footage reportedly showed one suspect chasing the teenager before fleeing, while witnesses said the attackers wore dark clothing and face coverings.

Frimpong's father, Thomas Frimpong, said his son had previously complained about being harassed by fellow students. He stated that two students had confronted Javits shortly before the shooting and were later suspended from school, leading him to suspect a connection to bullying.

Police have not publicly established a link between the alleged bullying and the fatal shooting. New York Police Department Chief of Detectives Joseph Kenny said investigators were continuing their work into the killing.

A candlelight vigil was held in the Bronx, with families and community members marching from Lou Gehrig Plaza along Melrose and Park Avenue. The event was organized by the African Advisory Council, the National Council of Ghanaian Association, and the National Ghana Parade Council.

Frimpong's mother received a visa from Ghana after Mayor Zohran Mamdani called President Donald Trump, allowing her to attend the funeral. Funeral arrangements are expected to be announced by attorney Ben Crump's office in the coming week.