Teenager charged with murder over Ghanaian boy's death in New York
A 17-year-old suspect faces murder charges for the fatal shooting of 15-year-old Javits Frimpong in the Bronx.
A 17-year-old has been charged with murder in the fatal shooting of 15-year-old Ghanaian Javits Frimpong in the Bronx, New York. The New York Police Department arrested the suspect on Wednesday morning and charged him with murder. Javits was shot on October 29, 2026, and later pronounced dead at St. Barnabas Hospital.
Javits' father, Thomas Frimpong, who brought his son from Ghana for education, expressed relief at the arrest. Javits' mother, Doris Gyamfi, travelled from Ghana seeking justice for her only child. US civil rights lawyer Ben Crump stated Javits, who dreamed of becoming a doctor, had moved to the US about a year before his death.
Hundreds attended a rally in the Bronx on Saturday under the banner “Justice for Javits”. Ghana's Ministry of Foreign Affairs is engaging with US authorities and the family, with the government covering travel costs for Javits' mother and contributing to funeral expenses. Ghana’s UN Mission is also working with Ben Crump to seek justice for Ghanaians killed in the US.
Why it mattersThe killing of Ghanaian teenager Javits Frimpong in New York has prompted government engagement and financial support for his family seeking justice.