A 15-year-old Ghanaian boy, Javits Frimpong, has been shot dead while walking to school in the Bronx borough of New York City, United States.

The teenager was shot in the abdomen shortly before 9:30 a.m. on Thursday, October 29, near East 171st Street and Crotona Place in the Claremont neighbourhood, according to police.

Officers transported him to St. Barnabas Hospital, where he later died from his injuries.

The New York Police Department (NYPD) is searching for three teenage boys, believed to be between 16 and 18 years old, in connection with the shooting. The suspects were reportedly dressed in black clothing, with some wearing blue surgical masks.

No arrests had been made as of Friday, while investigators continued examining surveillance footage and speaking with witnesses to establish what led to the attack.

The victim's father, Thomas Frimpong, said he suspected the incident might be connected to bullying his son had reportedly experienced at school.

He disclosed that the principal of Dreamyard Preparatory, where Javits studied, had informed him that two students had been involved in a confrontation with his son and were subsequently suspended.

According to the father, Javits had previously complained that another student repeatedly bullied him during lunchtime, despite his attempts to report the incidents.

He said the teenager had moved from Ghana to the United States about a year ago to live with him and described him as a quiet boy who rarely spoke about his difficulties.

The father, who rushed to the hospital after receiving news of the shooting, expressed grief over the loss and called on those responsible to surrender to the authorities.

However, police have not established any connection between the alleged bullying and the fatal shooting.

The incident has unsettled residents of the Claremont neighbourhood, with some expressing concern about gun violence and the safety of young people in the area.

Community members have called for stronger efforts to protect schoolchildren, improve youth engagement and provide programmes that keep teenagers away from violence.

Police have appealed to anyone with information about the shooting to assist the investigation as the search for the suspects continues.