A 15-year-old Ghanaian boy, Javits Frimpong, has been shot dead while walking to school in the Bronx, New York.
His father, Thomas Frimpong, believes the killing may be linked to bullying at the teenager’s school.
According to reports, the shooting happened at about 9:30 a.m. on Thursday near Crotona Park. Javits was shot in the stomach and rushed to a hospital, where he later died.
The New York Police Department (NYPD) is searching for three teenage boys in connection with the killing. Investigators said the suspects fled the scene wearing black tracksuits and blue surgical masks.
Father Suspects School Bullying Led to Killing
Thomas Frimpong believes his son was targeted because of a bullying dispute involving two schoolmates.
He said the students had recently been suspended. He also disclosed that the school principal informed him about the bullying just three days before his son was killed.
The father maintained that Javits was not responsible for the earlier confrontation at school. Instead, he said the teenager had been defending himself.
“The principal told me Javits is innocent. Javits is innocent. He was defending himself,” Frimpong said.
He added that he brought his son from Ghana to New York about a year ago in the hope of giving him a better future. The boy’s mother remained in Ghana.
Describing his son, the grieving father said: “My son was precious, very clever.”
Teenager Collapsed After Running from Shooting Scene
Police investigations are ongoing as officers search for the three suspects.
Surveillance footage reportedly showed someone matching the description of one of the suspects fleeing the area after the shooting.
Reports also indicate that Javits managed to run for about a block after being shot before collapsing.
However, police have not publicly identified the suspects or announced any arrests.
Father Recalls Last Conversation with Son
Frimpong, who works as a taxi driver, recalled speaking with his son on Thursday morning.
He said their last conversation was a simple reminder for Javits to get to school on time.
The teenager’s death has left the family and members of the Crotona Park community grieving.
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Residents have also expressed concern about violence involving young people in the neighbourhood.
Some have called for more after-school activities and youth programmes to keep teenagers engaged and away from violence.
Meanwhile, the NYPD continues to investigate the killing and search for those responsible.
