Sarkodie mourns Ghanaian teenager shot dead in New York

New York City Mayor Zohran Kwame Mamdani has secured President Donald Trump's approval for a visa allowing the mother of slain Ghanaian teenager Javits Frimpong to visit the United States, according to a statement on X by the mayor on October 31, 2026. The 15-year-old, who was fatally shot while walking to school in the Bronx, died from his injuries at St. Barnabas Hospital shortly after the attack on Thursday, October 29.

Mayor Mamdani revealed the visa would permit the mother, currently in Ghana, to travel to New York and say goodbye to her son in person. He expressed deep sorrow over the tragedy, stating that the loss of a child is unbearable, particularly when the bereaved are thousands of miles apart. The mayor did not disclose the type of visa or the processing procedures.

Javits, a 10th-grade student at DreamYard Preparatory School, had moved to the U.S. in 2025 to live with his father, a yellow cab driver in New York, after being bullied at school. His father has alleged that the alleged offenders may have been disciplined by the school. Police have not identified a motive for the shooting or confirmed any connection to the bullying.

The Ghanaian government has condemned the killing and urged a thorough investigation, with the Foreign Affairs Minister and Ambassador to the United States vouching for the family’s support. The NYPD is investigating the incident, searching for up to three male suspects, all believed to be teenagers. No arrests have been made. The visa arrangement announced by Mayor Mamdani is anticipated to facilitate the mother’s journey to New York for the farewell arrangements.