A 15-year-old who moved from Ghana a year ago was shot dead walking to school in the Bronx, and Mamdani says Trump agreed to give his mother a visa
Javits Frimpong was shot while walking to school.
Donald Trump has reportedly agreed to grant a visa to the mother of Javits Frimpong, a 15-year-old boy from Ghana who was killed in a shooting in the Bronx. New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani announced this development on October 31, 2026, via a post on X. This move comes after the teenager was shot while walking to school earlier this week. The incident has left the local community and officials searching for answers while they mourn the loss of a young life.
According to CNN, the shooting occurred shortly before 9:30 a.m. on October 29. New York City police reported that Frimpong was struck in the abdomen while on his way to classes. He was rushed to a hospital for emergency treatment, but he was pronounced dead later that same day. Authorities have not made any arrests in connection with the crime. The case remains an active investigation for the police.
Mayor Mamdani shared the news regarding the visa after communicating with the President. He emphasized the importance of allowing the boy’s mother to reach the United States to mourn her son. “The murder of a child is a pain no parent should have to endure, let alone from thousands of miles away,” Mamdani wrote. “Javits Frimpong’s mother deserves to say goodbye to her son in person. I just got off the phone with President Trump and he has agreed to grant her visa immediately.”
The Mayor also expressed the collective grief felt by the city
“All of New York City is mourning this tragedy,” he said. This intervention is notable given the broader context of current immigration policies. President Trump has implemented strict measures during his second term, which include suspending the processing of visas from 75 different countries.
US Rep. Ritchie Torres, a Democrat from the Bronx, provided some background on the victim. He noted that Frimpong had moved to the Bronx from Ghana just one year ago. The goal was to live with his father and start a new life in the United States. Rep. Torres shared his reaction on X as well.
“Our entire borough is mourning a young man who should have had his whole future ahead of him,” Torres said. “Every child in the Bronx deserves to walk to school without fearing for their life, and no parent should ever have to endure what Javits’s father, Thomas, is enduring now.”
Javits Frimpong’s father spoke about the tragedy
Thomas Frimpong, the father of the victim, spoke to reporters about his son. He remembered him as a quiet teenager who spent a lot of time on his cellphone. He also revealed that he had been made aware of bullying issues at the school just days before the shooting took place. The father explained that the school principal had reached out to him regarding the situation.
“It was the principal who told me,” Thomas Frimpong said. “He said two guys are disturbing my son so he has suspended the two guys. My son is at school. He’s innocent, so I call him. I talk with my son, he said ‘dad, I’m OK.’” Despite those efforts to address the bullying, the tragedy occurred shortly after.
The case has drawn international attention
Ghanaian Foreign Minister Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa posted on X to confirm that officials from Ghana are working with local authorities in New York. He stated that the foreign ministry “will work tirelessly with U.S. authorities to ensure justice is secured.” The minister also publicly acknowledged the intervention by Mayor Mamdani and the decision by President Trump.
Ablakwa specifically mentioned the mother Doris Adu Gyamfi. “Madam Doris Adu Gyamfi’s pain as a loving mother is unimaginable and indeed everything must be done to ensure she is present to pay her respects,” the foreign minister said.
He further noted that the government of Ghana is stepping in to assist the family. The government will cover the full cost of her travel to the United States. According to Fox News, they are also prepared to contribute funds toward a dignifying funeral for the teenager.
The White House has not yet provided an official statement confirming the administration’s steps to issue the visa. This situation highlights the intersection of local tragedy and federal policy. While the investigation into the shooting continues, the focus for many remains on supporting the family during this difficult time. The community continues to wait for updates from the police regarding the identity of those responsible for the shooting.
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