Ghanaian Teen Chased, Shot Dead on Way to School in New York

A 15-year-old Ghanaian teenager, Javits Badu Nkansah Frimpong, has been shot dead while walking to school in the Bronx, New York, with his grieving father raising concerns that alleged bullying at school may have been connected to the fatal attack.

Frimpong was reportedly shot in the stomach shortly after 9:00 a.m. on Thursday, October 29, 2026, near East 171st Street and Third Avenue in the Claremont neighbourhood of the Bronx.

The teenager was rushed to St. Barnabas Hospital by responding police officers but later died from his injuries.

According to reports, Frimpong was on his way to DreamYard Preparatory School when he was attacked. Surveillance footage from the neighbourhood reportedly showed him running along the street as a person dressed in black pursued him before he collapsed.

Police said they were searching for three people believed to have been involved in the shooting. The suspects were reportedly seen fleeing the area after the attack, with some accounts describing them as teenagers wearing dark clothing and face coverings.

As of Friday, October 30, no arrests had been announced, while investigators were yet to establish the motive for the killing.

The teenager’s father, Thomas Frimpong, said his son had complained about being bullied by another student and had repeatedly reported the alleged harassment to school authorities.

According to him, the school’s principal contacted him a few days before the shooting to inform him that two students had been suspended following complaints involving his son.

Thomas said he became concerned that the alleged bullying might have played a role in the killing, although the police have not established any connection between the school incidents and the shooting.

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He described Javits as a quiet, intelligent and disciplined teenager who rarely went out and was committed to his education.

The father said his son moved from Ghana to the United States in 2025 to live with him in the hope of building a better future.

Recounting the final moments before the tragedy, Thomas said he woke his son up on Thursday morning before leaving home.

He recalled that Javits came to open the door for him before he left, unaware that it would be their last encounter.

The father said he later received the devastating news from the principal of his son’s school.

He also expressed concern over the circumstances surrounding the attack, insisting that his son had not been involved in any serious trouble and had repeatedly sought help over the alleged bullying.

A school bus aide also told CBS New York that he was aware of at least two students who had been suspended in recent weeks over alleged bullying involving Javits.

However, authorities have not confirmed whether the students reportedly involved in the school incidents had any connection with the shooting.

A friend of the deceased also told local media that Javits had been involved in an altercation with two students at school shortly before his death. The friend, however, said the confrontation was not particularly serious.

The conflicting accounts have added to calls for a thorough investigation into the teenager’s death, although police have not publicly established a link between the school dispute and the fatal shooting.

Meanwhile, the killing has attracted attention in Ghana, with the country’s government promising to work with United States authorities to ensure that those responsible are brought to justice.

Ghana’s Minister of Foreign Affairs, Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa, said he had spoken directly with the deceased’s father to convey the government’s condolences and assure the family of its support.

In a statement issued on Friday, October 30, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs said the government would actively engage relevant American authorities to ensure a thorough investigation and accountability.

Ablakwa, speaking on behalf of President John Dramani Mahama, described the teenager’s death as a painful loss and assured the bereaved family that Ghana would support its pursuit of justice.

The minister also pledged that the government would provide appropriate legal and consular assistance to the family.

Officials of Ghana’s Permanent Mission in New York reportedly visited Thomas Frimpong to express their condolences and convey the government’s support.

The government also urged authorities in the Bronx to conduct a comprehensive investigation and ensure that anyone found responsible for the killing is brought to justice.

The tragedy has renewed concerns about school bullying, youth violence and the safety of students, particularly those who may be experiencing harassment without adequate protection.

For Javits’ family, however, the immediate priority remains obtaining answers about why the teenager was killed and ensuring that those responsible are identified and prosecuted.

Police investigations were ongoing as of October 30, with authorities appealing to anyone with information about the shooting to assist in identifying the suspects.