A 15-year-old Ghanaian boy has been fatally shot while on his way to school near Crotona Park in the Bronx, New York, with police searching for three teenage boys in connection with the killing.
Police said Javits Frimpong was shot in the stomach at about 9:30 a.m. on Thursday near the park.
Surveillance footage shows a person fleeing the scene who matched a description released by police: someone wearing a black hoodie, black sweatpants and a mask.
Authorities said the victim managed to run about a block after being shot before collapsing. He was subsequently taken to a hospital, where he died.
Investigators are searching for three teenagers who reportedly fled the area wearing black sweatsuits and blue surgical masks, according to a report by ABC7NY
The victim’s father, Thomas Frimpong, said he believes he knows who was responsible for the shooting, although police have not identified any suspects or made any arrests.
He believes the incident was linked to bullying, revealing that the school principal had informed him just three days earlier that two students had been bullying his son and had been suspended for a week.
Frimpong said he brought his son from Ghana to live with him in New York about a year ago. His wife, the boy’s mother, remains in Ghana, according to the ABC7NY video report.
He described his son as someone who largely kept to himself and spent little time outside the home.
The father also said school officials had told him that his son was not the aggressor in a recent altercation.
“The principal told me Javits is innocent. Javits is innocent. He was defending himself.”
Struggling to come to terms with his loss, Frimpong remembered his son fondly.
“My son was precious, very clever,” he said.
The victim’s father, who works as a yellow cab driver, said his last words to his son on Thursday morning were a reminder to make sure he got to school on time.
The killing has sparked outrage among residents of the Crotona Park neighbourhood, with some calling for greater parental supervision to help prevent violence among young people.
Others have urged authorities to introduce more programmes to keep teenagers engaged and away from crime.
“Mayor Mamdani if you’re hearing this, our kids need. They need after-school programs; they need different programs to keep them off the street. Too much idle time on a young man’s hands means trouble,” a resident said.
As police continue their search for the suspects, another neighbour appealed to the community to reject violence.
“Stop the violence, that’s all, stay home, stay in school.”
