Trump agrees visa for mother of Ghanaian teen shot dead in New York
- New York Mayor Zohran Mamdani says Trump agreed by phone to grant the mother an immediate visa.
- Javits Frimpong, 15, was shot in the Bronx on Thursday while walking to school; no arrests yet.
- The White House has not confirmed the arrangement, and it is unclear if the visa was issued.
United States President Donald Trump has agreed to grant an immediate visa to the mother of a 15-year-old Ghanaian boy who was shot dead in New York, according to New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani.
Mamdani said on Saturday that he spoke with Trump by phone and the president agreed to the request. The visa would let the teenager's mother, Doris Gyamfi, travel from Ghana to the US for her son's funeral.
"Javits Frimpong's mother deserves to say goodbye to her son in person," Mamdani wrote on X. "All of New York City is mourning this tragedy."
The White House had not confirmed the arrangement as of Saturday, and it was not clear whether the visa had been issued.
What happened to Javits Frimpong
Javits Frimpong was shot in the abdomen on Thursday morning while walking to school in the Bronx, according to the New York City Police Department. He was taken to St Barnabas Hospital, where he was pronounced dead.
Police have not announced any arrests. Reports say investigators are looking for three teenage suspects, aged about 16 to 18, who fled the scene. No motive has been established.
The teenager moved from Ghana to the Bronx about a year ago to join his father, Thomas Frimpong. His father told journalists the boy was clever and wanted to become a doctor.
Thomas Frimpong also said the school principal had told him days before the shooting that two students were disturbing his son, and that the two had been suspended. Police have not linked the alleged bullying to the killing.
Bronx Congressman Ritchie Torres said the borough was in mourning. "Every child in the Bronx deserves to walk to school without fearing for their life," he said.
Ghana steps in
Ghana's Foreign Affairs Minister, Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa, said diplomats in New York were working with US authorities and that the government would pursue justice. He said Ghana would cover the cost of the mother's journey, help with the visa process and contribute towards funeral expenses.
Gyamfi, who lives in Kumasi, is expected to travel to Accra on Monday to begin the visa application, according to reports.
Members of the Ghanaian community in the Bronx, religious leaders and residents held vigils on Saturday to mourn the teenager and call for justice.
The case comes as the Trump administration has tightened immigration rules, including suspending visa processing for nationals of 75 countries.
