Bronx Student Javits Frimpong Dies After School Shooting

Javits Frimpong, a 15-year-old student at DreamYard Preparatory School, died after being shot in the stomach near East 171st Street and Crotona Place in the Claremont section of the Bronx on Thursday morning. He was transported to a hospital where doctors attempted to save him but were unable to keep him alive. The incident occurred while he was traveling to school.

Frimpong arrived in the United States from Ghana in October 2025. His father told reporters on Thursday that his son had been bullied by other students at his school. The father stated he believes the shooting is connected to that bullying. Relatives described Frimpong as a bright student who intended to become a doctor. One speaker at a community gathering noted that a young boy had taken the life of another young boy and questioned how the shooter obtained the firearm.

Community members gathered at the scene to pray for Frimpong and his family. A relative said that Frimpong’s father brought him to the country expecting to provide a better life. The relative added that less than a year had passed since his arrival when his life was taken. Another mourner identified Frimpong as a brother, nephew, and cousin to the group. That mourner urged the community to take action regarding the event.

City officials reported that major crime in the Bronx declined by nearly 12% through September 30 compared with the same period the previous year. Speakers at the gathering stated that these statistics did not match their daily experience in the neighborhood. One speaker said government agencies report that crime is going down, but residents see younger children dying. The speaker emphasized that the government’s data does not reflect what they are seeing on the ground.

Police are continuing their investigation into the shooting. Family members and local residents are processing the loss of the teenager. The father maintains that the bullying he witnessed at his son’s school links to the fatal incident. The community is waiting for further details from law enforcement regarding the shooter and the specific circumstances of the attack.