New York City Police have stated that the city's Department of Education (DOE) initially obstructed their investigation into the murder of a bullied teenager by withholding information. Javits Frimpong, 15, was fatally shot last week while on his way to school in the Bronx.
Police Chief of Detectives Joseph Kenny said at a press conference that the DOE was not willing to provide necessary information without a subpoena, causing delays. "We’re working with the Department of Education. Unfortunately, they’re not willing to give us that information without a subpoena, so we’re going through proper channels to get that," Kenny stated.
Javits, who had moved to New York City from Ghana nearly a year prior, was reportedly being bullied at school, according to his father, Thomas Frimpong. The teen was found bleeding on the street after being attacked by masked individuals and later died from his injuries. His killers have not yet been apprehended.
The DOE told the New York Post that it is fully cooperating with the police and has provided all requested materials. However, it remained unclear whether this cooperation followed the acquisition of a subpoena by law enforcement.
New York State Assemblyman Kalman Yeger criticized the DOE's alleged initial stance, tweeting, "In Mamdani's New York, the public school system @NYCSchools refuses to help catch a child's murderers."
Kenny confirmed that police are investigating whether bullying contributed to Javits's death, a claim his father has made. Javits's father described how his son had reported bullying incidents to school officials on multiple occasions. The school principal had contacted Mr. Frimpong three days before the murder to report that two students were disturbing Javits, leading to their suspension.
Surveillance footage captured Javits being chased by masked attackers before he was shot. He had moved to the U.S. with aspirations for a better education and a career in medicine.
An online fundraiser for the family noted that Javits was killed just one day after his first anniversary of moving to the United States, describing him as "full of hope for a brighter future and a better education."