Javits Frimpong’s father says he brought his son from Ghana to the United States for an education, and one year later the 15 year old was shot and killed on his way to school in the Bronx.
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Thomas Frimpong spoke Wednesday at a press conference at the National Action Network’s House of Justice in Harlem, standing alongside his family, civil rights attorney Ben Crump and Rev. Al Sharpton. He remembered the exact day his son arrived.“I remember last year, 28th of October, 2025, I brought Javits from Ghana to continue his education here in the United States,” he said. “I think it was like 4:30 I picked him up from JFK, and in fact he was very, very, very excited.”
Javits moved in with his father. One year and one day after he landed, he was gone.
“Very unfortunately, on the 29th day of October I was at work when I heard that my son had been shot,” Thomas Frimpong said. “It wasn’t easy, but now all what I’m saying is I need justice for my son.”
Javits Frimpong, a 10th grader at DreamYard Preparatory School, was walking to class the morning of October 29 when he was chased and shot in the stomach near Crotona Place and East 171st Street in the Claremont section of the Bronx. Police said they were searching for three teenagers in black sweatsuits and blue surgical masks who ran him down, shot him, picked up the shell casings and fled. During the chase, Javits dropped his bag, and a passerby grabbed it and left with it.
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Hours before the press conference, NYPD detectives arrested a 17 year old at his home in the Bronx and charged him with murder, manslaughter and criminal possession of a loaded firearm. Police have not released his name because of his age, and they have not ruled out more arrests. Investigators have not named a motive.
The family learned about the arrest just moments before they stepped up to the podium. Javits’ mother, Doris Gyamfi, who traveled from Ghana after her son’s death, broke down while speaking and had to be helped away. Thomas Frimpong cried as Crump held his shoulder. He told reporters he was glad someone had finally been charged.
The family says Javits Frimpong was being bullied at school. His father said two students fought with his son days before the shooting, and that the principal told him two boys had been suspended for a week over it. Thomas Frimpong described his son as a quiet teen, and said that when he asked about the bullying, Javits told him he was okay. His mother, who was still in Ghana at the time, says Javits told her about the bullying too. Investigators are still looking into whether it played a role in the killing.
Crump said the family wants everyone responsible held fully accountable. “Why did they kill this young man, this person with such a bright future?” he asked. Crump said Javits came to the United States dreaming of becoming a doctor. He also said he plans to go with the family to the arraignment so they can see the person charged with killing their son.
Sharpton used the press conference to call for broader gun reform. He will officiate Javits’ funeral.
Javits Frimpong’s death has shaken the Bronx. Students at DreamYard walked out of class carrying “Justice for Javits” signs, calling for safer schools and accountability, and the community has held vigils and ride outs in his honor over the last two weeks.
