Man accused of killing high school basketball player in Paterson due in court

PATERSON, N.J. (WABC) -- A man charged with the murder of a teenage basketball player in a drive-by shooting in Paterson over the weekend will appear in court Thursday.

Police arrested 20-year-old Gregory Oliver, who has been charged with 2 counts of attempted murder and weapons possession charges.

The victim, Armoni Sexton was just 15 years old, and on Monday, his mother spoke out about the son that was taken too soon.

"Armoni, Armoni, I mean, it's just so hard to keep talking about him and talking about him," Lawanda Sexton said.

Gregory Oliver:

Lawanda is filled with grief after losing her son, who had so much promise, so much to live for, but died so young.

"Armoni just was a great kid," she said. "He loved basketball, he loved having friends around him. He loved family."

She had to make the painful decision to take her son off of life support, knowing that he was showing no signs of life after being shot once in the back of the head.

"I decided for them to take the machine off, if he breathed on his own,so be it," she said. "But he didn't, and he moved on."

Armoni Sexton was shot outside of a liquor store at the intersection of Rosa Parks Boulevard and Godwin Avenue around 8:30 p.m. Saturday. His mom said he was heading home because he had a 9 p.m. curfew.

"Where we live, it's reality," Lawanda said. "No one wants to get the phone call or, oh, you're child has been killed, but it's the reality."

Armoni, a top scorer and rebounder on the varsity team at the Paterson Charter School for Science and Technology, had dreamed of playing in the NBA. And standing 6-foot-8 1/2 at 15 years old, his prospects seemed bright. But now, his family is planning a funeral while realizing that his dreams will be unfulfilled.

"Always tell your kids you love them," Lawanda said. "I don't care if you argue, fight, if your kids get on your nerves. Just always tell your kids that you love them, because you never know when the last time you're going to see them."

At least three others were wounded in the shooting.

Oliver is no stranger to the law. He was freed on bail in November for another case involving assault and resisting arrest.