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NEW YORK — A 15-year-old boy was fatally shot while on his way to school Thursday morning in New York City, and investigators are searching for three teenage boys in connection with the killing.
Police said Javits Frimpong was shot in the stomach at about 9:30 a.m. local time near Crotona Park in the Bronx.
Surveillance video shows a person fleeing the scene who matched a description released by police: someone wearing a black hoodie, black sweatpants and a mask. Authorities said the victim ran about a block after being shot before collapsing. He later died at a hospital.
Investigators are searching for three teens who fled the area wearing black sweatsuits and blue surgical masks.
The teen’s father, Thomas Frimpong, said he believes he knows who was responsible, though police have not identified any suspects or made any arrests.
He said that he believes the shooting was tied to bullying. He said just three days ago the principal told him that two kids were bullying his son and got suspended for a week.
Frimpong said he brought his son from Ghana to live with him in New York one year ago for what he hoped would be a better life. His wife, the boy’s mother, remains in Ghana.
The father said his son largely kept to himself and did not spend much time outside the home.
He also said school officials told him his son had not been the aggressor in a recent incident.
“The principal told me Javits is innocent. Javits is innocent. He was defending himself.”
As he struggled to describe his loss, Frimpong focused on the memories of his son.
“My son was precious, very clever,” he said
The victim’s father, who drives a yellow cab, said the last thing he told his son before they parted Thursday morning was to make sure he got to school on time.
The killing has left residents in the Crotona Park neighborhood outraged over the violence and urging parents to pay closer attention to their children.
Others called for additional programs aimed at keeping young people engaged and away from violence.
“Mayor Mamdani if you’re hearing this, our kids need. They need afterschool programs; they need different programs to keep them off the street. Too much idle time on a young man’s hands means trouble,” a resident said.
As investigators continue searching for suspects, a neighbor offered a simple message to the community: “Stop the violence, that’s all, stay home, stay in school.”
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