Police have arrested a 17-year-old in the murder case of Javits Frimpong, the 15-year-old who was shot dead in the Bronx on Oct. 29 while walking to school. The suspect was picked up at his home on Wednesday morning and taken to the 42nd Precinct, where investigators tied him to the killing and charged him with murder, manslaughter and other firearm-related offenses.
The arrest gives the Frimpong family a first measure of movement in a case that has cut hard through the Bronx and far beyond it. Javits' mother, Doris Gyamfi, came from Ghana to mourn her son and said, “I need justice for my child,” adding, “That's all, I have only one child.”
Thomas Frimpong said his son had spoken about being bullied at school and recalled bringing him from Ghana so he could continue his education in the United States. He said Javits was excited about that future before he was shot in the stomach on his way to class. A funeral is scheduled for Nov. 20.
The case is moving, but it is not closed. Authorities were initially seeking three teenagers, and investigators said the suspects fled wearing black sweatsuits and blue surgical masks, picked up shell casings after the shooting and ran into the Freeman St subway station before boarding a No. 5 subway train to Manhattan. Police have not said what evidence led to the arrest of the 17-year-old, and they have not ruled out more arrests.
That leaves the family waiting for the rest of the case to catch up to the grief. Ben Crump said the suspect should be held fully accountable, while Millicent Boateng said Javits wanted to be a physician and wanted to be in the military. For now, the arrest answers one part of the case and leaves the larger one open: whether everyone tied to the shooting will be brought in.
