The mother of 15-year-old shooting victim Javits Frimpong broke down in tears Wednesday as she publicly spoke about her son’s death for the first time since arriving in the United States from Ghana.
Doris Adu Gyamfi traveled to New York after receiving an emergency visa. She was able to enter the country after Mayor Zohran Mamdani lobbied President Donald Trump to help fast-track the visa process. Speaking at a press conference in Harlem, Gyamfi struggled to contain her emotions as she called for accountability in her son’s killing.
“I need justice for my child,” she sobbed. “I have only one child. I have only one child.” The news conference was organized by the Rev. Al Sharpton and civil rights attorney Ben Crump, who joined Frimpong’s family in calling for justice and greater attention to gun violence involving young people.
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The event took place only hours after police announced the arrest of 17-year-old Thierno Jalloh in connection with Frimpong’s October 29 killing.
Frimpong was walking to school near East 171st Street and Third Avenue in The Bronx when he was shot shortly before 9:30 a.m. He was struck in the abdomen and later pronounced dead at St. Barnabas Hospital.
Disturbing video footage from the incident reportedly showed the teenager running through the street while covered in blood before collapsing.
The case remained unsolved for several days before detectives identified and arrested Jalloh. He is facing charges including murder, manslaughter, and criminal possession of a weapon.
Police have not announced a possible motive. Frimpong’s father, Thomas Frimpong, told The New York Post that his son had experienced bullying at school, though investigators have not said whether bullying played any role in the shooting.
Family members described Javits as a serious, ambitious, and studious teenager who had come to the United States hoping to build a better future. His father brought him from Ghana to New York last year so he could pursue what the family described as the American dream. Frimpong had hoped to become a doctor after first serving in the military. His sister, Millicent Frimpong, spoke at the press conference and read from a journal her brother had written about his family and his experience in the United States.
“It’s very difficult for me today,” Millicent told reporters. “I don’t know how to start, and I’m not sure how I’m going to end.” She said Javits was proud to be in the United States and had already begun thinking about his future. “He wanted to be a physician,” she said. “As soon as he finished high school he wanted to be in the military.”
Millicent said three of Javits’ siblings had served in the Army, including one who remains on active duty. She also identified herself as a veteran.
She then read words from Javits’ journal: “I am from Ghana. My family are my mother Doris, my father Thomas, my auntie Diana, my brothers Kenneth, Jeff, Richard, Anthony, and my sister Millicent,” he wrote.
“My friends are Lobo and Sumaya. School has been good since I came to the United States.”
The journal entry offered a glimpse into the teenager’s family life, friendships, and hopes after moving to America. His relatives said he was focused on school and determined to create a meaningful future.
Sharpton and Crump also used the news conference to call for a broader investigation into how the gun used in the shooting reached a minor.
“The investigation and pursuit of justice should also be about how minors got these guns, who’s selling these guns, and how these guns are getting into the hands of minors,” Sharpton said.
“We are not going to let the Javits case rest until those who used the guns are prosecuted, and where they got the guns from is also investigated,” he added.
The comments reflect the family’s concern that accountability should not end with the teenager accused of pulling the trigger. Sharpton argued that authorities should also examine the source of the weapon and whether adults or other individuals helped place it in the hands of a minor.
The case has drawn attention because Frimpong was killed during the morning hours while reportedly on his way to school. His death has also raised questions about student safety, bullying, youth violence, and the availability of illegal firearms in New York City.
Gyamfi’s arrival in the United States allowed her to attend the news conference and begin mourning alongside her family. She had been in Ghana when her son was killed and faced difficulties traveling to New York in time.
During the press conference, her grief was visible as she repeatedly spoke about her only child and demanded justice.
Jalloh remains accused of murder, manslaughter, and criminal possession of a weapon. The charges are allegations, and he is presumed innocent unless proven guilty in court. The investigation remains ongoing. Authorities have not disclosed whether additional arrests are expected, whether the alleged weapon has been recovered, or whether the shooting was connected to a dispute, bullying, or another motive.
For Frimpong’s family, however, the immediate priority is honoring the teenager’s life and ensuring that the circumstances surrounding his death are fully investigated. They say Javits came to the United States with hopes of becoming a doctor, serving in the military, and building a future for himself and his family.
Now, his mother and relatives are asking prosecutors and police to deliver justice for the teenager whose life ended before he could pursue those dreams.