School bullying may be tied to 15-year-old's NYC shooting death, father says

The NYPD continues to hunt for at least two suspects in the shooting death of a 15-year-old boy steps from his Bronx home a day ago, while the grieving teen’s father claims school bullying may have played a role.

Javits Frimpong died after being shot in the stomach Thursday morning near  East 171st Street and Third Avenue, less than a block from Crotona Park.

Jarring surveillance video from his Claremont neighborhood shows a teenager running for his life, while another person dressed all in black runs after him. The other person stops and turns around, and shortly after, the victim could be seen collapsing in the distance.

The boy’s father, Thomas Frimpong, said his son had complained to school officials about a classmate who had been bullying him. He believes the shooting is retaliation for that report, which Thomas Frimpong says got two students suspended.

He says Javits’ principal was the one who told him about the shooting.

“The school can testify my son is always quiet. Always,” said Frimpong, adding that his son went to school every day.

Police say they’re looking for at least two shooters who were said to have run from the scene.

The investigation is ongoing.

News 4 is reaching out to the boy’s school.

Gun violence in the neighborhood has been down, according to the neighborhood. Compared to 2025, shootings in 2026 have been down 37% and murders down 44%.

Anyone with information is asked to call Crime Stoppers at 1-800-577-TIPS.