New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani announced on Saturday that US President Donald Trump has agreed to grant a visa to the mother of Javits Frimpong, a 15-year-old Ghanaian boy who was fatally shot in the Bronx. Mamdani shared the news on X after a phone conversation with Trump, stating that the president had agreed to grant the visa immediately. The boy’s mother had been seeking to travel to New York to say goodbye to her son.
The tragic incident occurred on Thursday morning when Frimpong was chased by three teens on his way to school. He was shot in the abdomen and died later that day in the hospital. Thousands of people attended vigils held in his honor across the city. Frimpong’s father, Thomas Frimpong, has called on the police to seek justice for his son, though no arrests have been made yet.
Frimpong’s parents moved him to the US a year ago in hopes of providing him a better life. Congressman Richie Torres, who represents the Bronx, expressed grief over the loss, stating that the borough was mourning a young man who should have had his entire future ahead of him. Ghanaian Foreign Minister Sam Okudzeto Ablakwa also confirmed that Ghanaian officials are coordinating with local authorities to assist with the visa application process.
Visa applications from several African countries have been restricted under the Trump administration, making this decision particularly significant. There has been no immediate comment from Trump regarding the matter.