Arrest made in murder of Paterson basketball star Armoni Sexton, A local man has been arrested on murder charges in the drive-by shooting that claimed the life of the city's most promising basketball talent, 15-year-old Armoni Sexton.
Gregory A. Oliver, 20, of N. 3rd St., in the First Ward, has been charged with one count of murder, two counts of attempted murder and weapons possession in connection with the Saturday night shooting in the city's Fourth Ward, Major Crimes Detective Capt. Heriberto Rodriguez said Monday night.
Investigators say Sexton, one of the top Class of 2018 basketball players in the country, was near the corner liquor store at 230 Rosa Parks Boulevard with several friends when multiple shots were fired from a passing vehicle.
Two males, ages 15 and 17, and one woman, 20, were wounded in the shooting but are expected to survive, Rodriguez said.
Police did not reveal any other details of the investigation or say whether Sexton was a target. But Paterson Mayor Jose "Joey" Torres told The Paterson Press Monday afternoon that the shooting was retaliatory, payback for a recent shooting in the First Ward. Torres could not be reached for comment and police officials declined to expound upon his statements.
City police last week said an 18-year-old man was shot in the leg on East Main Street on April 13, the only recent shooting recorded in the First Ward.
Officials have in recent months acknowledged the cascading violence between young men in the neighboring wards, which are separated by a bridge over the Passaic River.
Why the groups are warring is unclear, but prosecutors say they've been exchanging fire since 2010.
Six people were wounded in a drive-by shooting outside the same Fourth Ward liquor store on Rosa Parks Boulevard and Godwin last June. A few months later, 14-year-old Nazerah Bugg was caught in the crossfire as she chatted with friends outside a chicken restaurant in the First Ward. Authorities don't believe Bugg, who like Sexton aspired to play professional basketball, was the target. Seven people, including three juveniles, have been charged in connection with Bugg's death.Armoni's mother, Lawanda Sexton, told The Record outside her home on Harrison Street Monday afternoon that she forgives her son's killer.
"Even if I was to see him right now, God's honest truth, I would literally hug him, pray for him and tell him that I forgive him," she said. "Because the life he's facing is not going to be a good one."
Tommie Patterson, who coached Sexton at Paterson Charter School for Science and Technology (PCSST), said he tried to send the gifted wing to a prep school to escape the violence of the Silk City. But Sexton insisted on staying, according to the coach.
"We should have sent him," a distraught Patterson said. "We should have gotten him out of here early. It's not what you want, but it's what's best for you. And now this happened. I just can't believe it."
The fatal shooting on Saturday marks Paterson's 25th shooting of the year and its fourth homicide.
Police are asking anyone with information related to the fatal shooting to contact detectives at 973-321-1120, 973-523-TIPS or text at Patersonpd.com. All information received will remain confidential.
Investigators say Sexton, one of the top Class of 2018 basketball players in the country, was near the corner liquor store at 230 Rosa Parks Boulevard with several friends when multiple shots were fired from a passing vehicle.
Two males, ages 15 and 17, and one woman, 20, were wounded in the shooting but are expected to survive, Rodriguez said.
Police did not reveal any other details of the investigation or say whether Sexton was a target. But Paterson Mayor Jose "Joey" Torres told The Paterson Press Monday afternoon that the shooting was retaliatory, payback for a recent shooting in the First Ward. Torres could not be reached for comment and police officials declined to expound upon his statements.
City police last week said an 18-year-old man was shot in the leg on East Main Street on April 13, the only recent shooting recorded in the First Ward.
Officials have in recent months acknowledged the cascading violence between young men in the neighboring wards, which are separated by a bridge over the Passaic River.
Why the groups are warring is unclear, but prosecutors say they've been exchanging fire since 2010.
Six people were wounded in a drive-by shooting outside the same Fourth Ward liquor store on Rosa Parks Boulevard and Godwin last June. A few months later, 14-year-old Nazerah Bugg was caught in the crossfire as she chatted with friends outside a chicken restaurant in the First Ward. Authorities don't believe Bugg, who like Sexton aspired to play professional basketball, was the target. Seven people, including three juveniles, have been charged in connection with Bugg's death.Armoni's mother, Lawanda Sexton, told The Record outside her home on Harrison Street Monday afternoon that she forgives her son's killer.
"Even if I was to see him right now, God's honest truth, I would literally hug him, pray for him and tell him that I forgive him," she said. "Because the life he's facing is not going to be a good one."
Tommie Patterson, who coached Sexton at Paterson Charter School for Science and Technology (PCSST), said he tried to send the gifted wing to a prep school to escape the violence of the Silk City. But Sexton insisted on staying, according to the coach.
"We should have sent him," a distraught Patterson said. "We should have gotten him out of here early. It's not what you want, but it's what's best for you. And now this happened. I just can't believe it."
The fatal shooting on Saturday marks Paterson's 25th shooting of the year and its fourth homicide.
Police are asking anyone with information related to the fatal shooting to contact detectives at 973-321-1120, 973-523-TIPS or text at Patersonpd.com. All information received will remain confidential.
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