Church of Pentecost Ministers visit father of Ghanaian teen shot dead in Bronx

Ministers of The Church of Pentecost USA have visited the family of 15-year-old Javits Frimpong, the Ghanaian teenager who was fatally shot in the Bronx, New York, to offer condolences and support following the tragic loss.

The ministers, acting on the instructions of the church's National Head, visited Javits' father, Thomas Frimpong, and other family members to commiserate with them as they come to terms with the devastating loss.

The visit was intended to demonstrate the church's solidarity with the bereaved family and provide spiritual and emotional support during what has been an extremely difficult period.

Javits' death has sent shockwaves through the Ghanaian community in the United States and drawn widespread attention in Ghana, particularly over the circumstances surrounding the fatal shooting.

The 15-year-old was shot in the abdomen shortly before 9:30 a.m. on Thursday, October 29, 2026, near East 171st Street and Crotona Place in the Claremont neighbourhood of the Bronx.

According to reports from US media outlets, Javits was on his way to school when the incident occurred. Police officers who responded to the scene rushed him to St. Barnabas Hospital, where he later died from his injuries.

The New York Police Department (NYPD) is reportedly searching for three teenage suspects, believed to be between 16 and 18 years old, in connection with the shooting. The suspects were last seen wearing black clothing and blue surgical masks.

No arrests had been announced as of the latest reports, while investigators continued efforts to establish the circumstances surrounding the killing.

The incident has also raised concerns about alleged bullying Javits experienced at school before his death.

His father, Thomas Frimpong, told US media that his son had complained about being bullied by another student and had repeatedly reported the matter.

According to him, the school's principal had contacted him days before the shooting over an incident involving two students who were subsequently suspended.

Thomas recalled his son's account of the alleged bullying, saying: "He said, 'Dad, any time I am going to lunch, that guy keep on bullying me.' He said, 'I have been reporting him several times.'"

However, investigators have not established any connection between the alleged bullying and the fatal shooting.

Javits, who reportedly moved from Ghana to the United States in October 2025 to reunite with his father, had dreams of becoming a physician.

His father described him as a quiet and intelligent boy whose death had left him devastated.

The tragedy has since attracted attention from Ghanaian officials and members of the Ghanaian community in the United States, with calls for a thorough investigation and justice for the teenager.

The Church of Pentecost USA's visit adds to the growing expressions of solidarity with the Frimpong family as they mourn the loss of a young life.

The church has called for prayers for the family, asking God to strengthen and comfort them as they navigate the painful period of bereavement.

EA