A 17-year-old boy has been arrested in connection with the murder of 15-year-old Javits Frimpong, a Ghanaian student, who was shot dead while walking to school in the Bronx on 29 October 2026. The New York Police Department (NYPD) announced the arrest on their official X account, stating the teenager was taken into custody earlier that morning and is facing a murder charge.
“NYPD detectives arrested a 17-year-old male for the murder of 15-year-old Javits Frimpong on 29 October 2026 in the Bronx. He is being charged with murder,” the department reported. They added, “The NYPD will be relentless in our efforts to get dangerous people out of our communities, especially when it involves the murder of a 15-year-old boy.”
According to ABC7 New York, the suspect was taken to the 42nd Precinct for questioning, where he also faces charges of manslaughter and firearm-related offences. His identity remains undisclosed due to his status as a minor, and authorities have not revealed a motive for the shooting.
Frimpong was shot in the abdomen near East 171st Street and Crotona Place while heading to school. He later died in hospital. The Guardian reported that he had moved from Ghana to the US about a year earlier to reunite with his father, Thomas Frimpong. His father shared concerns about bullying at school, leading to the suspension of two students; however, investigators have not confirmed a connection between the bullying and the murder.
PUNCH previously reported the incident and noted that police were searching for three teenage suspects. In a follow-up report, they highlighted the family’s calls for justice as well as efforts by Ghanaian authorities to engage with their American counterparts regarding the case.
This arrest follows community demands for justice over Frimpong’s killing. The Associated Press also covered this development, revealing investigations had looked into various motives, but none had been established.
