Ghana Demands Justice and Thorough US Probe Into Bronx Shooting of 15-Year-Old Javits Frimpong

Ghana HeadlinesOct 31, 2026Read original

The Government of Ghana has demanded a thorough investigation from United States authorities following the fatal shooting of 15-year-old Ghanaian teenager Javits Badu Nkansah Frimpong in the Bronx, New York. The teenager was shot and killed on Thursday morning, October 29, 2026, while on his way to school.

In a statement issued on Friday, Ghana’s Minister for Foreign Affairs, Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa, expressed deep condolences to the family and assured them of the state's unwavering support. Minister Ablakwa, who spoke directly with the boy's father, Thomas Frimpong, pledged that Ghana would actively work with US authorities to ensure those responsible are brought to justice.

According to the New York City Police Department (NYPD), Javits was shot once in the abdomen at approximately 9:20 a.m. near East 171st Street and Crotona Place in the Claremont section of the Bronx. The shooting occurred just around the corner from the apartment he shared with his father. Officers transported the teenager to a local hospital, where he was pronounced dead.

Police are currently searching for three teenage suspects, aged between 16 and 18, who were last seen wearing all-black clothing and blue surgical masks. The motive behind the shooting remains unclear, and local authorities have not yet established what led to the confrontation.

The tragedy has raised serious concerns regarding safety and bullying at the victim's school, Dreamyard Preparatory. Javits’ father, Thomas Frimpong, 60, revealed that his son had recently opened up about being targeted by bullies. According to the father, the school principal had previously contacted him about an incident just days prior, which resulted in the suspension of two boys who had fought with Javits.

"He said, 'Dad, any time I am going to lunch, that guy keep on bullying me,'" Thomas Frimpong recalled, adding that his son was a quiet boy who had moved from Ghana to the United States only a year ago to join him.

Ghana’s Ambassador to the United States also issued a condolence message on behalf of President John Dramani Mahama and the people of Ghana, describing the death as a national tragedy. The Ambassador highlighted the "deeply disturbing" reports that Javits had experienced racial bullying at school, calling for an impartial and careful examination of all circumstances surrounding the case.

On the instructions of the Foreign Ministry, officials from Ghana’s Permanent Mission to the United Nations in New York visited Thomas Frimpong at his Bronx home on Friday morning to commiserate with the family and offer solidarity.

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs reaffirmed Ghana's commitment to the safety, dignity, and well-being of its citizens abroad, promising to provide the family with all necessary legal and consular assistance. The government also extended its thoughts and prayers to Javits’ mother, Doris Adu Gyamfi, who resides in Kumasi, Ghana, as well as his wider circle of family and friends.