The 15-year-old Ghanaian immigrant was shot while walking to school in the Bronx on Oct. 29 and later died.
NEW YORK — A 17-year-old boy has been arrested and charged with murder in the fatal shooting of 15-year-old Javits Frimpong, who was attacked while walking to school in the Bronx last month, New York City police said Wednesday.
The teenager, whose name has not been publicly released because he is a minor, was arrested early Nov. 11 in the NYPD’s 42nd Precinct. Police said he faces charges of murder, manslaughter and criminal possession of a weapon. The arrest came nearly two weeks after Frimpong was shot near East 171st Street and Crotona Place on the morning of Oct. 29. Authorities have not announced a confirmed motive, and the investigation remains active.
Officers responding to a 911 call at about 9:24 a.m. found Frimpong suffering from a gunshot wound, according to police. He was taken to St. Barnabas Hospital, where he later died. Frimpong had been walking to DreamYard Preparatory School and was only a short distance from his home when the shooting occurred.
Surveillance footage reviewed during the investigation showed Frimpong running while being chased by a person dressed in dark clothing before collapsing, according to news reports citing police. Investigators previously said they were looking for several teenagers in connection with the shooting. Authorities have not publicly detailed the alleged role of the 17-year-old now charged.
Frimpong’s father, Thomas Frimpong, said his son told him before the shooting that he was being bullied at school. His father has questioned whether the killing could have been connected to those problems. Police, however, have not publicly established bullying as the motive and have continued investigating the circumstances surrounding the shooting.
Javits Frimpong had moved from Ghana to New York about a year before his death to live with his father and pursue an education in the United States. His family described him as a quiet and ambitious student. The killing drew attention from members of New York’s Ghanaian community and others seeking answers about what led to the attack.
Frimpong’s family retained civil rights attorney Ben Crump following the shooting. The Rev. Al Sharpton and Ghanaian officials also joined relatives in calling for a full investigation into the teenager’s death.
Frimpong’s mother, Doris Adu Gyamfi, had remained in Ghana when her son moved to the United States. New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani asked federal officials to help expedite a visa so she could travel to New York after the killing. She later arrived in the United States and joined family members as they mourned Frimpong and sought more information about the case.
Police have not publicly said whether Frimpong knew the teenager who was arrested or disclosed evidence establishing what led to the shooting. The charges against the 17-year-old are accusations and have not been proven in court. Investigators continue to examine the circumstances surrounding the attack and whether anyone else was involved.