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The New York Police Department is seeking information from the city's Department of Education about alleged bullying involving 15-year-old Javits Frimpong as detectives investigate his fatal shooting, according to Gothamist.
“We’re not going to discount the bullying angle here,” NYPD Chief of Detectives Joseph Kenny told Gothamist on Monday (November 2).
Frimpong's father, Thomas Frimpong, told the outlet two students fought with his son at DreamYard Preparatory School days before the shooting and both were suspended.
Kenny said detectives need a subpoena to obtain school records about the incidents.
Schools Chancellor Kamar Samuels acknowledged that investigators and the family are still seeking answers.
“There is so much we don’t know right now,” Samuels said Monday. “I reiterated [this to the] family that we are working to find them as many answers as possible and that we will do everything we can to support the NYPD in their investigation.”
DOE spokesperson Nicole Brownstein said the department was cooperating with police.
“Student records are protected by federal, state and local law,” Brownstein said. “We will comply with requests for records in accordance with laws to continue to support the NYPD efforts.”
Police are also investigating robbery and mistaken identity as possible motives. Kenny said detectives found no evidence Javits was involved in gang activity.
Police told Gothamist that three masked individuals were already in Crotona Park when Javits arrived Thursday morning (October 29). After noticing them approaching, the teenager attempted to escape, but they chased him, and he was fatally shot, Kenny said.
“All three gave chase, and these cowards shot him in the back,” Kenny said.
Investigators believe the individuals retrieved the shell casings before leaving the area. They eventually boarded a southbound 5 train, and detectives traced their movements into Manhattan, Gothamist reported.
No suspects have been publicly identified.
Students remembered Javits as respectful and reserved. Bryan Cabral, 15, who mentored him, described him as “very shy” but “respectful to everybody,” Gothamist reported.
A GoFundMe campaign for the family has raised more than $880,000 from approximately 26,000 contributors as of Tuesday (November 3).
BIN reported that New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani announced Monday that President Donald Trump agreed to grant a visa to Javits' mother, who lives in Ghana, so she could travel to New York following her son's death.
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