A 15-year-old Ghanaian student, Javits Frimpong, has been shot dead in the Bronx, New York. Frimpong, a student of DreamYard Preparatory School, was found with a gunshot wound to his abdomen on Thursday morning. Police responded to reports of a teenager being shot near East 172nd Street and Crotona Place in the Claremont neighbourhood. According to the New York Police Department (NYPD), Frimpong was rushed to St. Barnabas Hospital but later succumbed to his injuries.
Frimpong's father, Thomas Frimpong, a 60-year-old man, believes the bullying incidents his son experienced may have contributed to the circumstances surrounding his death. He had recently become aware of the alleged bullying and had spoken to the school's principal about two students who were allegedly harassing his son. The principal had contacted Thomas Frimpong about the incidents, resulting in the suspension of the two students.
According to Thomas Frimpong, his son had told him about the bullying, particularly during lunch breaks. Javits Frimpong had said that one of the students regularly bullied him, and he had repeatedly reported the incidents to school authorities. Thomas Frimpong had advised his son to report the bullying, but Javits indicated that he had already done so. The father has appealed to those responsible for the shooting to surrender to the police.
Thomas Frimpong described his son as a quiet boy who rarely spoke. Javits had moved from Ghana to the United States about a year ago to join his father. The distraught father expressed the depth of his grief, saying it was not easy for him to lose his son. He rushed to the hospital after receiving news of the shooting and is struggling to come to terms with Javits' death.
The NYPD is searching for at least two male suspects, believed to be teenagers, in connection with the shooting. The suspects were reportedly dressed in dark clothing and wearing surgical masks. Surveillance footage obtained by local media shows two individuals matching the suspects' descriptions fleeing the scene. One of them is seen returning to retrieve an object he had dropped before both suspects ran away.
The NYPD has appealed to anyone with information that could assist investigations to contact Crime Stoppers on 1-800-577-TIPS. The shooting has left residents of the neighbourhood shocked, with some expressing concerns about the safety of children in the area. One neighbour, Cecile Johnson, described the incident as devastating, while another resident, Modesto Arriola, said the violence had heightened fears among parents.
A longtime resident identified only as Carla said Javits had been on his way to school and was simply doing what was expected of him when his life was cut short. The community is in shock, and the police are working to bring those responsible for the shooting to justice. The incident has raised concerns about bullying in schools and the safety of students.
Key points
- Javits Frimpong, a 15-year-old Ghanaian student, was shot dead in the Bronx, New York, after reports of bullying at school.
- The NYPD is searching for at least two male suspects, believed to be teenagers, in connection with the shooting.
- The incident has raised concerns about bullying in schools and the safety of students.
