The mother of 15-year-old Ghanaian student Javits Frimpong has arrived in the United States to seek justice for her son, who was shot dead in a suspected attack while on his way to school in the Bronx, New York.

Madam Doris Adu Gyamfi made the emotional appeal upon arriving in New York on Wednesday, November 4, six days after the teenager was killed.

“I want justice for my son, that is all,” she said, according to a report by Citi News.

She also disclosed that Javits had dreamt of becoming a medical doctor, a future that was cut short by the fatal shooting.

Her arrival comes amid growing concerns over the circumstances surrounding the teenager's death, with police yet to arrest anyone in connection with the incident.

How Javits was killed

Javits was shot at about 9:20 a.m. on Thursday, October 29, 2026, while walking to DreamYard Preparatory School in the Claremont neighbourhood of the Bronx.

According to NYPD Chief of Detectives Joseph Kenny, three hooded individuals wearing surgical masks were already in Crotona Park when the teenager approached. The suspects reportedly moved towards him, prompting him to run for safety. However, all three chased him before one of them shot him.

Chief Kenny described the incident, saying: “All three gave chase, and these cowards shot him in the back.”

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

His backpack was reportedly taken after he dropped it while running, while investigators believe the attackers returned to retrieve the bullet casings before fleeing the scene.

The suspects, believed to be between 16 and 18 years old, were last seen wearing black clothing and blue surgical masks. Investigators later traced their movements to a southbound No. 5 train, which they allegedly boarded after fleeing the scene.

The circumstances preceding the shooting have also raised questions about possible bullying at Javits' school.

His father, Thomas Frimpong, told investigators that his son had complained about being bullied by two schoolmates and that the pair had been suspended following a fight days before the killing.

A friend of Javits also told News 12 that the teenager had been involved in an altercation with two students shortly before his death.

However, police have not established any connection between the school dispute and the fatal shooting.

What police are investigating

NYPD detectives are considering three possible motives: robbery, mistaken identity involving a rival gang and bullying.

Chief Kenny has confirmed that investigators have found no evidence linking Javits to gang activity. He also disclosed that detectives were seeking information from the New York City Department of Education about the alleged bullying incidents.

The department said it would cooperate with the investigation in accordance with laws protecting students' records.

No suspects had been publicly identified as of November 3.

The case has attracted attention in Ghana and the United States, with the Ghanaian government also intervening to support the bereaved family.

Before travelling to New York, Madam Gyamfi met Deputy Minister for Foreign Affairs James Gyakye Quayson, who conveyed the government's condolences and assured her of continued support.

The Deputy Minister said the government would work through Ghana's diplomatic mission in the United States to engage the relevant American authorities and ensure that the circumstances surrounding Javits' death received the necessary attention.

Foreign Affairs Minister Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa has also engaged the family, while Ghana's Permanent Mission in New York has visited them as part of efforts to support the investigation.

Javits' death has generated grief among members of the Ghanaian community and his schoolmates, with students at DreamYard Preparatory School organising a memorial and calling for justice.

His killing has also renewed concerns about the safety of young people, particularly immigrants, in the United States.

For his mother, however, the immediate concern remains finding answers and ensuring that those responsible for her son's death are brought to justice.

EA