“We Failed”: Tears As What Late Javits Frimpong Wrote in His Diary Surfaces After His Death

Javits Frimpong, a 15-year-old Ghanaian immigrant, was fatally ambushed by three masked attackers on his way to school in the BronxHis family shared diary entries in which the tenth grader wrote about his ambitions, his faith, and his gratitude for his new life in AmericaA GoFundMe campaign raised over $800,000 in three days, and New York's mayor secured a visa for Javits' mother to travel from GhanaPAY ATTENTION: Mark YEN.com.gh as a preferred source, and our content will appear higher in your Google feed!

Javits Frimpong, a 15-year-old Ghanaian immigrant living in the Bronx, was fatally attacked by three masked assailants on his way to class at Dream Yard Preparatory School on a Thursday morning, October 29, 2026, just one block from his home in Mott Haven.

The diary of the late Javits Frimpong, who died while on his way to school in the US, surfaces, with his striking words leaving many in tears. Image credit: Getty Images/Pius Utomi Ekpei Source: UGCThe tenth grader was struck in the abdomen on Crotona Place near East 171st Street at approximately 9:20 a.m. and was rushed to St. Barnabas Hospital, where he later died.

Police confirmed he was the intended target of the three males, each of whom wore a surgical mask before fleeing the scene. His killers have not been caught.

Javits’ death: US Congressman Ritchie Torres joins mourners at Bronx vigil

In the days before his death, Javits had been writing in a personal journal that his family later shared with the New York Daily News.

The entries painted a portrait of a reflective, quietly ambitious young man still finding his footing in a new country.

Javits had arrived in the United States exactly one year before his death, leaving his mother in Ghana to join his father.

He had dreamed of becoming a physician and wrote warmly about his school, noting that the learning environment felt far more nurturing than what he had experienced back home.

Barker-Vormawor announces death of his father, shares heartbreaking details of his passing

He also kept a small amount of money in his room that his family says he was setting aside to support friends' education in Ghana.

His father, Thomas Frimpong, told investigators that Javits had been bullied by a few students who were recently suspended from his school, and believes those incidents may be connected to his son's murder.

The killing drew widespread condemnation from public officials. Bronx District Attorney Darcel Clark appealed directly to the suspects, saying:

New York City Mayor Mamdani announced on social media that he had spoken with President Trump, who agreed to grant an immediate visa to Javits' mother so she could travel from Ghana to say goodbye to her son in person.

Javits Frimpong: Slain 15-year-old’s teacher gives intel, video goes viral

A GoFundMe set up to support the Frimpong family raised over $800,000 in just three days. Anyone with information is urged to contact Crime Stoppers at (800) 577-TIPS. All calls will remain confidential.

The Facebook post below has a video of the late Javits Frimpong's father speaking in an interview.

Earlier, YEN.com.gh reported on Ghanaian-American singer Jay Ghartey’s visit to the Bronx site where 15-year-old Javits Frimpong died, and the memorial left by mourners.

Frimpong was killed while travelling to school, prompting grief and calls for justice across the Ghanaian community.

A “Justice for Javits” poster and lit candles now mark the site as authorities search for three teenage suspects.

Don't miss out! Get your daily dose of sports news straight to your phone. Join YEN's Sports News channel on WhatsApp now!

Ruth Sekyi (Entertainment Editor) Ruth Esi Amfua Sekyi is a Human Interest Editor at YEN.com.gh with 4+ years’ experience across radio, print, TV, and digital media. She holds a B.A. in Communications (PR) from UNIMAC-IJ. Her media career began at Radio GIJ (campus radio), followed by Prime News Ghana. At InstinctWave, she worked on business content, playing major role in events organized by the company. She also worked with ABC News GH, updating their site, served as Production Assistant. In 2025, Ruth completed the ECOWAS, GIZ, and MFWA Information Integrity training. Email: ruth.sekyi@yen.com.gh