Ghanaian-American comedian Michael Blackson has reacted to the death of Javits Frimpong, a 15-year-old Ghanaian boy shot while on his way to school in the Bronx, New York, recalling his own experience of being bullied as a young African immigrant in the United States.

Sharing his thoughts on social media, Blackson said the story left him heartbroken.

"This story broke my heart this morning. I remember being that age my first time in America when I lived in Newark NJ, I was bullied and once punched in the face because I had good grades. This 15 yr old kid couldn’t wait to come to America and now a year later he’s dead. This has to stop," he wrote.

In a longer post, the comedian said the teenager reminded him of himself when he first arrived from Africa at about the same age.

"I got bullied a lot in Newark NJ before my mom decided to move us to Philly," he wrote.

He recalled one incident at Broadway Jr in North Newark, where a boy who did not attend the school used to hang around.

"I remember one day I was getting on the 13 bus to head home when he snuck up and sucker punched the hell out of me and ran away for no reason. I later heard he did it because he heard I had good grades," he said.

Blackson said he reported the matter to his principal, who then walked him to the bus stop every day after school for his safety. He added that he never told anyone else and kept it to himself.

"This was late 80’s and it’s so sad it’s still happening today. I was the only African at the school so all the kids of all races bullied me on a daily basis," he wrote.

Looking at the images of the late teenager, Blackson said he was moved to tears.

"Looking at this kid brought tears to my eyes because not only did he look like me at his age he was going thru what I went through," he said.

He also called on the parents of those responsible to speak up.

"Not sure why he was heading to school at 9.20am but the only thing I can think of was he went outside and saw those kids and went back home waiting for them to leave. Those kids parents needs to speak asap about this," he wrote.

Blackson offered condolences to the family and announced a plan to speak to students.

"I will start making appearances at high schools to talk to foreign kids and help them on dealing with bullying. May God help us all to help deal with this. Amen," he said.

What we know about the shooting

Javits Frimpong was shot once just before 9.30am on Thursday, October 29, 2026, near East 171st Street in the Claremont area of the Bronx, reports say. He was taken to hospital, where he died.

He had moved from Ghana to the United States exactly one year earlier to join his father, Thomas Frimpong, a 60-year-old taxi driver. He was a student at DreamYard Preparatory School.

His father told CBS News New York, ‘He’s my everything.’ He said the school principal had called him days earlier about a fight involving his son and two other boys, who were suspended. It was then, he said, that his son told him he was being bullied at lunch and had reported it several times. The school and the city’s Department of Education had not responded to the claims at the time those reports were published.

Police are looking for three teenage boys aged 16 to 18, last seen in all-black clothing and blue surgical masks. No arrests had been reported. Authorities have not said what led to the shooting or whether bullying played a part. The father has appealed to the suspects to surrender.

Ghana’s government has also sent its condolences, with its diplomatic representatives in New York said to be working with US authorities.

See the post below:

This story broke my heart this morning. i remember being that age my first time in america when i lived in Newark NJ, i was bullied and once punched in the face because i had good grades. This 15 yr old kid couldn’t wait to come to America and now a year later he’s dead. This has to stop.

— Michael Blackson (@MichaelBlackson) October 30, 2026

This kid reminded me of myself when i first came from Africa, i was about the same age and i got bullied a lot in Newark NJ before my mom decided to move us to philly.

— Michael Blackson (@MichaelBlackson) October 30, 2026

He brought his son to America for a better life and a year later he has to bury him. America is not the promise land that we think it is. Most of us came to america with nothing so we had to move to the hoods which are more affordable, the wrong hood could end your life. It all starts at home, parents need to talk to their kids and teach them how to treat others. RIP #javitsfrimpong

— Michael Blackson (@MichaelBlackson) October 31, 2026