Stranger Stole Backpack of Slain Bronx Teen During Chase, Police Say
NYPD investigators revealed that a bystander took the bag of 15-year-old Javits Frimpong while he fled three masked men who shot him dead on October 29.
By Sergio Morris ·
New York City police revealed on Monday that a stranger stole the backpack of Javits Frimpong, a 15-year-old immigrant student, while he was running from the three men who shot him dead in the Bronx. Chief of Detectives Joseph Kenny confirmed the detail during a news conference, noting that the bag was not recovered by the suspects because another citizen had already taken it.
Frimpong was killed on October 29 near East 171st Street and Crotona Place in the Claremont neighborhood. Investigators stated that the three suspects approached the teen while disguising themselves with hoods and surgical masks on a hot day. Frimpong ran to escape and dropped his backpack in the process. The suspects fired at him and then returned to pick up the shell casing from the ground before fleeing. They ran to the Freeman Avenue and Southern Boulevard train station and jumped the turnstiles to leave the area.
Kenny described Frimpong as a dedicated student who was trying to live the American dream. The detective said the teen often left his phone at home to concentrate on schoolwork and would only check it periodically after finishing his homework. Kenny said the manner of the attack suggested the suspects knew exactly what they were doing.
Police are investigating three possible motives for the shooting: a simple robbery, bullying, or a case of mistaken identity where the group thought Frimpong was a rival gang member. Kenny said detectives attempted to gather information from the city’s Department of Education but had to issue a subpoena to obtain the records. He noted that the suspects’ heavy disguises on a warm day signaled their intent to Frimpong, who had lived in the country for about a year.
Frimpong’s classmates at DreamYard Preparatory School held a walkout on Monday morning to protest his killing and gun violence. Over the weekend, Mayor Zohran Mamdani said he spoke with President Trump, who agreed to grant Frimpong’s mother an immediate visa so she could attend her son’s funeral. A GoFundMe page established for the family stated they are raising money for funeral and burial expenses.
No arrests have been made in the case. Crime Stoppers is asking anyone with information to call 800-577-TIPS or submit tips online at crimestoppers.nypdonline.org. The agency also accepts messages on X at @NYPDTips and keeps all reports confidential.
Source: amNY
