A family calls for answers
The procession began at Lou Gehrig Plaza and ended on East 171st Street, where Frimpong died. His father, sister and brother stood together while family attorney Natalie Jackson described their demand for answers and accountability.
"They want to know the truth about what happened to Javits," Jackson said. "They want justice for their son and their brother, and they want an assurance that no other family will ever have to suffer the way that this family has had to suffer."
Public Advocate Jumaane Williams acknowledged that accountability could not restore the teen's life. "Justice would be Javits alive, but we can't have that now so those folks need to be off the street and face accountability," he said.
Police pursue suspects and possible motives
Frimpong was fatally shot near Crotona Place and East 171st Street. Surveillance footage showed three teens chasing him as he tried to escape on his way to school.
Police described the suspects as about 16 to 18 years old and dressed in black, with blue surgical masks. After the shooting, they fled into Crotona Park. Investigators traced them to Manhattan, and surveillance footage captured them jumping a subway turnstile before boarding a 5 train there.
A possible connection to school bullying remains under investigation. Frimpong's father told PIX11 News that his son had been bullied and that, days before the killing, the principal had informed him of two students' suspensions.
Police requested school records concerning the bullying allegations. The New York City Department of Education first required a subpoena, then said it was cooperating with investigators and would provide records in accordance with the law.
CBS New York reported that investigators are also considering robbery and mistaken identity as possible explanations for the killing. Frimpong's backpack has not been recovered.
A year in New York
Frimpong had come from Ghana to live with his father, Thomas Frimpong, in New York about a year before his death. Oct. 28, 2026, was the first anniversary of his arrival in the United States. He was killed the next morning.
His father remembered him as a clever, quiet teen who hoped to become a doctor.
His mother, Doris Adu Gyamfi, reached New York from Ghana on Wednesday, Nov. 4, 2026, after receiving an emergency visa. Following the shooting, Mayor Zohran Mamdani had asked President Donald Trump to help secure the visa.
Legal support and funeral arrangements
The family has also hired civil rights attorney Ben Crump. His firm said it would help examine the events preceding the shooting and whether anyone else may bear responsibility.
By Nov. 5, 2026, a GoFundMe for Thomas Frimpong had raised $898,199 through more than 27,000 donations, toward a goal of $1.1 million. The money is intended for funeral costs, burial arrangements and unexpected expenses.
More information about Javits Frimpong's funeral arrangements is expected at a news conference scheduled for Wednesday.
