A 17-year-old has been arrested and charged with murder in the fatal shooting of 15-year-old Javits Frimpong, who was killed while walking to school in the Bronx on October 29.
In a post shared to social media Wednesday (November 11), the New York Police Department announced the arrest, emphasizing its commitment to holding those responsible for Frimpong's killing accountable.
“Earlier this morning, NYPD detectives arrested a 17-year-old male for the murder of 15-year-old Javits Frimpong on October 29, 2026 in the Bronx,” the department said. “He is being charged with murder.”
The post continued, “The NYPD will be relentless in our efforts to get dangerous people out of our communities, especially when it involves the murder of a 15-year-old boy.”
The teenager is also facing manslaughter and firearm-related charges, according to ABC7 New York. Police have not released his identity because he is a minor, and additional teenagers are still being sought in connection with the shooting.
The arrest comes as investigators continue examining whether bullying played a role in Frimpong's death. His father, Thomas Frimpong, previously said two students fought with his son at DreamYard Preparatory School days before the shooting. Both students were suspended.
Police previously said they were searching for three teenagers wearing black sweatsuits and blue surgical masks who chased and shot Frimpong before retrieving the shell casings and fleeing the scene.
NYPD Chief of Detectives Joseph Kenny said in a November 2 interview that investigators were not ruling out bullying as a possible factor in the killing, while also examining robbery and mistaken identity as potential motives.
Frimpong's family gathered in Harlem Wednesday for a news conference organized by the National Action Network, alongside civil rights attorney Ben Crump and Rev. Al Sharpton.
The gathering was originally planned as an appeal for information about the killing, but the family learned of the arrest shortly before the event. Crump welcomed the development while demanding answers about why Javits was killed, according to The Associated Press.
"What we're all wondering is: Why? Why did they kill this young man, this person with such a bright future?" Crump said.
Frimpong's sister, Millicent Boateng, spoke about her brother's aspirations, saying he wanted to become a physician and serve in the military.
She also shared an excerpt from his journal: "School has been good when I came here."
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