The tragedy surrounding the death of 7-month-old Kaori Patterson-Moore took a new emotional turn this week as one of the accused suspects broke down in front of reporters, repeatedly proclaiming his innocence just as the baby’s devastated family gathered to lay her to rest in Brooklyn.

Kaori was killed on April 1, 2026, when a stray bullet struck her in the head while she sat in a double stroller with her 2-year-old brother near Humboldt and Moore Streets in East Williamsburg. Her mother, 20-year-old Lianna Charles-Moore, was pushing the stroller during a routine afternoon outing when gunfire erupted in what authorities describe as a botched gang-related targeted attack.

Police say 21-year-old Amuri Greene, riding on the back of a moped driven by 18-year-old Matthew Rodriguez, opened fire on the crowded street. The bullet meant for someone else passed through Kaori’s head and grazed her brother’s back. Despite her father’s desperate efforts to rush her to the hospital, the infant was pronounced dead.

On Tuesday, April 14 — the same day or immediately after Kaori’s burial — Rodriguez was extradited from Pennsylvania and arraigned in Brooklyn Supreme Court. As he was led out of the 90th Precinct in handcuffs, the young man appeared emotional and sobbed while addressing reporters. He repeatedly insisted he had no idea the shooting would happen.

“I didn’t do it. I didn’t know it was gonna happen. It’s not my fault. I didn’t pull the trigger,” Rodriguez said over and over, according to multiple witnesses and video from the scene. “I promise I didn’t know. I promise, I promise, I didn’t know he was going to do it. I didn’t know he was going to pull the trigger.”

When informed of the victim’s age — just 7 months old — Rodriguez reportedly broke down further while being loaded into a police vehicle, begging for forgiveness and continuing to shift blame entirely onto Greene.

Rodriguez pleaded not guilty through his attorney to a 17-count indictment that includes second-degree murder, attempted murder, assault, criminal possession of a weapon, endangering the welfare of a child, and hindering prosecution. He was ordered held without bail. Prosecutors argue that by driving the moped and fleeing the scene after the shots were fired, Rodriguez played a critical role in the deadly incident.

Amuri Greene, the alleged gunman, appeared in court on crutches the following day and also pleaded not guilty to murder and related charges. Both men are scheduled to return to court on June 10.

Meanwhile, Kaori’s family was enduring their own profound sorrow. The baby’s funeral took place with mourners watching as her tiny pink casket — adorned with Minnie Mouse flowers and inscribed with her name — was placed into a glass carriage pulled by a white horse along Lafayette Avenue. The procession was a tender yet devastating tribute to an infant whose life had barely begun.

Family members, including Kaori’s young mother Lianna, were supported by loved ones as waves of grief overwhelmed them. Earlier at the wake, Lianna’s brother Michael Moore had shared that his sister was “breaking down all day every day,” struggling to cope with the unimaginable loss. Godfather Raheem Jennings described scenes of hysteria where Lianna had to be escorted out of the service when emotions became too intense.

Reverend Al Sharpton delivered a powerful eulogy at the funeral, urging the community not to grow numb to such tragedies and calling for stronger neighborhood engagement to protect children from gun violence. Brooklyn District Attorney Eric Gonzalez also attended, emphasizing the severity of the charges against both suspects.

The shooting has sparked widespread outrage across New York City, highlighting the terrifying reality of stray bullets in residential areas during daytime hours. Kaori was not the intended target, making her death even more infuriating to residents who fear everyday activities can turn deadly due to gang conflicts spilling into public spaces.

Community vigils with stuffed animals, flowers, and candles have appeared near the shooting site, as neighbors and strangers alike mourn a baby who had just started saying “Mama,” taking her first steps, and bringing joy to her family.

For Lianna Charles-Moore, now 20 years old and left to raise her surviving son while grieving her daughter, the pain remains relentless. The family continues to receive counseling and community support, but the road to healing feels impossibly long.

Rodriguez’s emotional outbursts and claims of innocence have done little to ease the family’s anger or the public’s frustration. While he insists he had no prior knowledge of Greene’s plan to shoot, prosecutors maintain that his actions as the driver made him equally responsible for the deadly outcome.

This case has reignited broader discussions about accountability in gang-related violence, the dangers of stray bullets to innocent bystanders — especially children — and the need for stronger interventions to prevent young people from being drawn into such cycles.

As both suspects await further court proceedings, Kaori’s family is trying to find strength in each other and in the outpouring of love from the community. The tiny pink casket and white horse procession served as a final, heartbreaking farewell to a little girl who deserved a lifetime of smiles, not a tragic end on a Brooklyn street.

Kaori Patterson-Moore’s short life has left an indelible mark, turning strangers into advocates and forcing a city to confront the human cost of unchecked gun violence. Her memory now fuels calls for change — so that no other family has to bury a baby because of someone else’s dispute.

In the end, while one suspect declares “it’s not my fault,” the undeniable truth is that a precious 7-month-old life is gone forever, and her family’s grief will endure far beyond any courtroom verdict.