The family of 15-year-old Ghanaian student Javits Badu Nkansah Frimpong has appointed US civil rights lawyer Ben Crump, while urging the public not to politicise or tribalise the teenager’s death.
Javits was shot in the Bronx on Thursday, 29 October. His relatives made the appeal in a video circulated on Friday, 6 November, after visiting a funeral home in the borough, where his mother and other family members in New York are preparing for his burial.
A family representative called on African and Black American communities to stand together, saying those present had been told by some people at the funeral home that they should leave because the shooting was being viewed as an exclusively African or Black community issue.
“This is not an African thing. It’s not a Ghanaian thing. It’s an American thing, a Ghanaian thing, it’s a world thing,” the representative said.
The family urged Bronx residents not to allow the killing to create divisions.
“It’s something very, very touching and we do not expect anybody to politicise it or tribalise it,” the representative added.
They also called for collective action against bullying and gun violence in the United States, an issue President John Dramani Mahama raised in Accra on Thursday.
“Let’s all come together, fight for our kids, fight for the future of America. Let’s say an end to violence and guns and let’s end to bullying,” the representative said.
The family asked the public to remain calm while the investigation continues and said details of the burial would be released later.
“Justice is not going to bring uncle’s sons back. All we need is justice,” the representative said, ending with the words: “Justice for Javits.”
Family appoints Ben Crump
Mr Crump confirmed on Friday that his firm had been retained to pursue accountability and investigate potential civil claims.
“He came here from Ghana a year ago dreaming of becoming a doctor, and he deserved to make that walk safely, like every child does, no matter where they come from,” Crump said in a statement.
A candlelight vigil organised by the family and Ghanaian groups is scheduled for 4 p.m. on Saturday, 7 November, at Lou Gehrig Plaza, the Bronx Times reported.
Police investigation
Javits, a Grade 10 pupil at DreamYard Preparatory School, was shot shortly before 9:30 a.m. near Crotona Park. He was taken to St Barnabas Hospital, where he died. By Friday, police had announced no arrests.
NYPD Chief of Detectives Joseph Kenny said on Monday, 2 November, that investigators were examining three possible motives, ABC7 New York reported.
“Right now, we’re looking at the possibility that the child was being bullied at school. We’re working with the Department of Education to verify that. But we’re also looking at two other aspects. Could this child have been the victim of a robbery gone bad, or was this a case of mistaken identity where a rival gang member thought he was the opposition,” Kenny said.
According to Gothamist, Kenny said three hooded suspects wearing surgical masks chased Javits after he ran, shot him in the back and collected their shell casings before boarding a southbound No. 5 subway train towards Manhattan.
Detectives have found no evidence connecting Javits to a gang. Kenny described him as “a very good kid” who had left his phone at home to concentrate on his schoolwork.
