Javits Frimpong was shot in the abdomen while walking near his school in the Bronx. His father alleges that the teenager had repeatedly complained about bullying, as police hunt three suspects.

A 15-year-old Ghanaian teenager, identified as Javits Frimpong, has been shot dead near his school in the Bronx borough of New York, United States, in a killing that has left his family devastated and raised fresh concerns over school bullying and youth violence.

Frimpong was reportedly walking near East 171st Street and Crotona Place in the Claremont section of the Bronx shortly before 9:30 am on Thursday when he was shot once in the abdomen.

According to a report by CBS News, citing the New York Police Department, officers rushed the teenager to a nearby hospital, where he was later pronounced dead.

Police have launched an investigation into the killing and are searching for three teenage suspects, believed to be between 16 and 18 years old.

The suspects were reportedly last seen dressed in black clothing and wearing blue surgical masks. Authorities have yet to establish what led to the fatal shooting or disclose a possible motive.

However, the victim's father, Thomas Frimpong, has alleged that his son had previously experienced bullying at school and had complained about repeated harassment by another student.

Thomas told CBS News that his son relocated from Ghana to the United States approximately a year ago to live with him.

He said he learnt about the shooting after receiving a call from the principal of Dreamyard Preparatory, the school his son attended.

Recounting his son's alleged experiences, the grieving father said the teenager had repeatedly complained about being bullied during lunch breaks.

According to him, two boys had also been involved in a fight with his son days before the shooting and were subsequently suspended.

Thomas further alleged that his son later told him another student continued to harass him whenever he went for lunch.

“Any time I am going to lunch, that guy keep on bullying me,” the teenager reportedly told his father.

The father said his son had raised concerns about the alleged bullying on several occasions.

CBS News reported that it contacted the school and the New York City Department of Education for comments on the allegations, but neither had responded at the time of publication.

Describing his son as a quiet and reserved teenager, Thomas said he was struggling to come to terms with the devastating loss.

“My son is very quiet. My son didn’t talk. He don’t talk,” he said.

The grieving father also appealed to those responsible for his son's death to surrender to the police, insisting that the killing of an innocent teenager must not go unpunished.

Meanwhile, the New York Police Department has urged anyone with information that could assist the investigation to contact its Crime Stoppers hotline.

As investigations continue, police are yet to announce any arrests or confirm whether the alleged bullying was connected to the fatal shooting.