A seven-month-old Black / African American girl named Kaori Patterson-Moore was fatally struck by a stray bullet in a tragic incident in the East Williamsburg neighborhood of Brooklyn, New York, on the afternoon of April 1, 2026. Kaori was in her stroller, being pushed by her mother, when gunfire erupted near the intersection of Humboldt and Moore streets. A bullet struck the infant in the head. Her father rushed her to a nearby hospital, but her injuries proved fatal.
Investigators believe the shooting was gang-related and that the intended target was someone else. The senseless act of violence sent shockwaves through the community, prompting renewed calls to address gun violence.
In the days following the shooting, the New York Police Department identified and arrested two suspects. Amuri Greene, 21, was identified as the alleged gunman who fired the shots from the back of a moped. The driver of the moped was identified as 18-year-old Matthew Rodriguez. The pair reportedly crashed their moped while fleeing the scene. Greene was apprehended after seeking medical treatment for injuries sustained in the crash. Rodriguez was later arrested in Pennsylvania by NYPD detectives and U.S. Marshals.
Both Greene and Rodriguez have since been indicted by a grand jury on multiple charges, including second-degree murder, attempted murder, assault, and weapons possession. The indictment also revealed that Kaori's two-year-old brother was grazed by a bullet during the incident. Both men have pleaded not guilty to the charges. If convicted of the murder charge, they each face 25 years to life in prison. The case is currently proceeding through the court system.
