US President Trump agrees to facilitate visa for mother of Ghanaian teen killed in Bronx shooting

New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani said on Saturday that US President Donald Trump has agreed to facilitate an immediate visa for Doris Gyamfi, the mother of 15‑year‑old Javish Frimpong. Frimpong, who had moved from Ghana in October 2025 to live with his father Thomas Frimpong, was shot in the abdomen while walking to school in a Bronx neighbourhood on 29 October 2026 and later died at St Barnabas Hospital. The mayor revealed that the deal was struck over a phone call with the president, although the White House had not separately verified the understanding and it remained uncertain if the visa had been granted by the night of 1 November.

Police have launched an investigation into the shooting, searching for three teenage suspects believed to be aged between 16 and 18. No arrests have been made and the motive remains under investigation. The victim's father informed journalists that his son had expressed concerns about ongoing harassment at DreamYard Preparatory School, where two pupils were said to have been sent home, even though law enforcement had not connected the bullying to the homicide.

Background

The incident has drawn attention from both US and Ghanaian officials. Ghana’s Foreign Affairs Minister Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa called for justice following the killing, which has resonated within the large Ghanaian community in the Bronx. Representative Ritchie Torres, a Democrat from the borough, confirmed that Frimpong had moved to New York to join his father and pursue education, expressing the community’s grief. The shooting occurred near Claremont, close to Crotona Park, an area with a notable Ghanaian presence.

Why it matters

The case highlights concerns about youth violence and school safety in New York City, as well as the broader impact of bullying on student wellbeing. It also underscores diplomatic sensitivities, with Ghana seeking a transparent investigation and the US responding through the visa facilitation for the victim’s mother. The visa decision allows Doris Gyamfi to travel from Kumasi, Ghana, to the United States to mourn her son in person, addressing the emotional toll on families separated by distance.

What happens next

Authorities continue to search for the three suspected teenage assailants, and the investigation remains open. The White House has not yet confirmed the visa issuance, leaving the final status of Gyamfi’s travel pending. Ghanaian officials and New York community leaders are expected to monitor the case closely, seeking accountability and closure for the Frimpong family.