A 15-year-old Ghanaian boy, Javits Frimpong, has been shot dead on his way to school in the Bronx, New York.
The incident occurred on Thursday morning near Crotona Park when unknown assailants shot him in the stomach, according to reports.
Investigators are searching for three teenage boys alleged to have been involved in the shooting. They were seen fleeing the area wearing black sweatsuits and blue surgical masks.
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.
The father of the deceased, Thomas Frimpong, said he believes he knows who was responsible, though police have not identified any suspects or made any arrests.
He said 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.
Thomas 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. 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.
By Prince Fiifi Yorke