Trump Agrees to Expedite Visa for Ghanaian Mother of Teen Killed in NYC Shooting, Mamdani Says

New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani on Sept. 8, 2026. Michael M. Santiago/Getty ImagesNew York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani said on Oct. 31 that President Donald Trump has agreed to grant an expedited B-2 visa to a Ghanaian mother whose teenage son was fatally shot in the Bronx on Oct. 29.Javits Frimpong, a 15-year-old boy from Ghana who lived in the Bronx with his father, was on his way to school shortly before 9:30 a.m. when he was shot in the abdomen, according to New York City police. He later died at a hospital.Police said the investigation into the shooting remains ongoing and no arrests have been made so far.In a post on X, Mamdani said he talked to Trump about Frimpong’s killing. He indicated that the teen’s mother, who is in Ghana, wanted to travel to the United States to bid her son farewell.“The murder of a child is a pain no parent should have to endure, let alone from thousands of miles away. Javits Frimpong’s mother deserves to say goodbye to her son in person,” the mayor said.“I just got off the phone with President Trump and he has agreed to grant her visa immediately. All of New York City is mourning this tragedy.”Trump has not publicly commented on Mamdani’s post.The White House did not respond to a request for comment.Ghanaian Foreign Minister Sam Okudzeto Ablakwa thanked Mamdani in a social media post and said that his government welcomed Trump’s decision to immediately grant a visitor visa to Frimpong’s mother, Doris Adu Gyamfi.Ablakwa said he had directed officials to assist Gyamfi with her visa application and that Ghana would cover all of her travel expenses to and from the United States. He added that Ghana was also prepared to contribute to a dignified funeral for Frimpong.“Madam Doris Adu Gyamfi’s pain as a loving mother is unimaginable and indeed everything must be done to ensure she is present to pay her respects,” he said. “We resolve to continue to work together in securing justice for Javits.”The boy’s father, Thomas Frimpong, described his son as a quiet boy who spent much of his time on his cellphone. A few days before the shooting, he said, he had learned that the teen was being bullied at school.“It was the principal who told me,” he told The Associated Press. “He said two guys are disturbing my son so he has suspended the two guys. My son is at school. He’s innocent, so I call him. I talk with my son, he said ‘Dad, I’m OK.’”According to a statement issued by Rep. Ritchie Torres (D-N.Y.), Javits Frimpong had moved to the Bronx from Ghana a year ago to live with his father and start a new life.Torres said his borough is mourning the teen’s death and urged anyone with information about the shooting to contact the New York City Police Department’s Crime Stoppers hotline at 1-800-577-TIPS.“Every child in the Bronx deserves to walk to school without fearing for their life, and no parent should ever have to endure what Javits’s father, Thomas, is enduring now. My heart is with him and with everyone in Claremont grieving today,” he said.The Associated Press contributed to this report.