Boy, 15, Killed While Walking to School, Father Claims Bullies Are Responsible

Javits Frimpong, 15, was shot while walking to school in the Bronx on Oct. 29, and later died from his injury

His father, Thomas Frimpong, said the teen moved from Ghana a year ago to live with him for a better life but was being bullied at school

NYPD said no arrests have been made, and the investigation remains ongoing

A father claims he knows who killed his son after the teen was fatally shot on his way to school in New York.

In a statement to PEOPLE on Friday, Oct. 30, the New York Police Department identified 15-year-old Javits Frimpong of the Bronx as the victim.

Police received a call at approximately 9:24 a.m. local time on Thursday, Oct. 29 about a male who had been shot in the vicinity of East 171 Street and Crotona Place. Responding officers arrived to find Javits with a gunshot wound to the abdomen.

Officers at the scene transported the teen to St. Barnabas Hospital, where he later died from his injury.

Police tape (stock image).Credit: Getty

His father, Thomas Frimpong, spoke to local news outlets near their home, which wasn’t far from where the shooting took place, claiming his son was being bullied at school and that the other students allegedly responsible for the bullying had recently been suspended, ABC 7 NY, ABC New York, and Fox 5 NY reported.

“The principal told me Javits is innocent. Javits is innocent. He was defending himself,” Frimpong said, per ABC 7 NY.

Just one year ago, Frimpong moved Javits from Ghana to live with him for a better life, he said. The teen’s mother remains in the West African country.

“She couldn’t talk,” Thomas said of Javits’ mom. “She’s crying. She said, unless she sees the body, she don’t believe it.”

During the tearful interview, Frimpong struggled to speak as community members gathered around him.

The last time he saw his son before going to work was when he woke him up for school that morning. He became emotional when asked what the last thing he told Javits was.

Three masked individuals in dark clothing were captured on multiple surveillance video cameras, fleeing the area around the time of the shooting. Javits ran away from his attackers and collapsed about a block away.

Police car (stock image).Credit: Getty

“I know them, I definitely do!” Frimpong said, per ABC 7 NY. “He don’t know anybody here. He don’t go out.”

Frimpong said he would encourage Javits to go outside to play, but the teen would decline.“My son was precious, very clever,” he told the news station.

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He added that it was the school that called him to say his son had been shot.

“The school can testify my son is always quiet. Always,” Frimpong said, noting that Javits never missed school, NBC New York reported.

A spokesperson for the New York Police Department tells PEOPLE no arrests have been made, and the investigation remains ongoing.

Anyone with information is asked to call Crime Stoppers at 1-800-577-TIPS.

Source: Crime