Mother of 15-year-old Ghanaian shot dead in New York demands justice

The mother of 15-year-old Ghanaian student Javits Badu Nkansah Frimpong has appealed for justice following the fatal shooting of her son in the Bronx, New York.

Madam Doris Adu Gyamfi, who travelled from Ghana to the United States following the incident, said her priority was to ensure that those responsible for the teenager’s death were identified and brought to justice.

Speaking after arriving in New York ahead of her son's funeral, the grieving mother made an emotional appeal, saying: “I want justice for my son, that is all.”

She also revealed that Javits aspired to become a medical doctor, describing his death as a painful loss of a young boy whose promising future had been cut short.

The 15-year-old was shot dead on Thursday, October 29, 2026, while walking to school in the Claremont neighbourhood of the Bronx, in an incident that has sparked grief and concern among Ghanaian communities in New York.

Javits was reportedly shot shortly before 9:30 a.m. near Crotona Park while making his way to DreamYard Preparatory School, where he was a Grade 10 student.

According to information released by the New York Police Department, the teenager sustained gunshot wounds and was rushed to St Barnabas Hospital, where he was later pronounced dead.

Investigators say three individuals wearing hooded clothing and surgical masks were in the area before the teenager arrived.

Police indicated that Javits attempted to flee when the suspects approached him, but they pursued him and opened fire.

The suspects reportedly returned to retrieve their spent shell casings before escaping through a nearby subway station.

Investigators are tracking their movements and pursuing leads to establish their identities and whereabouts as efforts continue to apprehend those responsible for the killing.