Thomas Frimpong had brought his son Javits from Ghana to the Bronx exactly one year ago, hoping to give him a brighter future. That anniversary fell on the very day his son was killed. Javits was shot in the stomach near Cortona Park while walking to school. According to police, the shooting took place at around 9 a.m. Thomas, who drives a yellow cab, had just returned home from a night shift as his son was heading out for school.
The only instruction Thomas had time to give Javits that morning was to get to class on time. Thomas narrates that his last moments with Javits were brief, as he had to leave for work. Javits was seen on surveillance footage sprinting away from his attacker before collapsing a block from the scene. He was rushed to hospital, where he later died. Thomas is struggling to cope with the loss of his son, and his voice cracks as he recounts the events.
Javits's mother remains in Ghana and was reportedly inconsolable after hearing the news. Thomas said that his wife "couldn't talk. She's crying. She said, unless she see the body, she don't believe it." Thomas told reporters that Javits had experienced trouble with other students earlier that week, and that the school's principal had described Javits as innocent, saying he had merely been defending himself.
According to Thomas, Javits was a quiet boy who didn't know many people in the area. He said, "He don't know anybody here. He don't go out. Even I asked him to leave here. I asked him to go to this field to play. He said, no, always on his phone. He don't know anybody." Surveillance footage captured a figure fleeing the scene dressed in a hoodie, sweatpants and a mask.
Investigators are currently searching for three teenage boys in connection with the shooting. As of the time of reporting, no arrests had been made. Police were continuing their investigation from the 42nd Precinct. The police believe that the killing may be linked to bullying by fellow teenagers.
Thomas is still trying to come to terms with the loss of his son, who had been brought to the US for a better life. He had been hoping to give Javits a brighter future, but his dreams were shattered on the day of the shooting. The community is rallying around Thomas, offering support and condolences.
The incident has sparked concerns about school safety and bullying in the US. Authorities are urging anyone with information about the shooting to come forward. The investigation is ongoing, and the police are working to bring the perpetrators to justice. Javits's death has left a void in the lives of those who knew him, and his family is struggling to cope with the loss.
Key points
- The police believe that the killing may be linked to bullying by fellow teenagers.
- Javits's father, Thomas Frimpong, had brought him to the US from Ghana exactly one year ago for a better life.
- Three teenage boys are being searched for in connection with the shooting.
