Mother of Ghanaian boy killed in US 'wants justice' as she flies for funeral

Published4 November 2026, 14:01 GMT

The mother of a 15-year-old Ghanaian boy who was fatally shot in the United States last week has left Ghana for America after being granted an emergency visa by President Donald Trump.

"I want justice for my son," Doris Adu Gyamfi told the BBC at the airport before her departure.

She said he had dreamt of becoming a medical doctor.

Her son, Javits Frimpong, who had only been in the US for a year, was chased down and shot on Thursday morning on his way to school in the Bronx, New York.

He was taken to a local hospital, where he was pronounced dead.

Police have not made any arrests and an investigation is ongoing as authorities search for three teenage boys in connection with the shooting.

His death has sparked outrage in both Ghana and the US, and reignited the debate about gun violence in America.

His mother was escorted to the airport by relatives and Dr Erieka Bennett, Head of Mission of the African Diaspora Forum.

"I'm going to America to plan my son's funeral," Gyamfi said.

She thanked the government and well-wishers for their support and prayers following her son's death.

In a social media post on Saturday, New York mayor Zohran Mamdani said Trump had agreed to grant a visa to Gyamfi so she could mourn her son in person.

Mamdani said the murder of a child was a pain no parent should endure, "let alone from thousands of miles away.”

"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," he said.

"All of New York City is mourning this tragedy," he added.

Ghana's government has condemned the killing and said it was following the case closely to ensure justice.

It has urged US authorities to conduct a thorough investigation and said it was ready to provide legal and consular support to ensure the perpetrators are brought to justice.

Police are searching for three teenage suspects who fled the scene, captured on surveillance footage.

The shooting has sparked concern among Ghanaians about the safety of children sent to study in America.

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