A 7-month-old girl, Kaori Patterson-Moore, was fatally shot in East Williamsburg, Brooklyn, on Wednesday, April 1, 2026. The tragic incident occurred near Humboldt and Moore Sts. around 1:20 p.m.

Innocence Lost

Kaori had recently celebrated significant milestones, taking her first steps and uttering her first word, “mama,” according to her heartbroken mother, 20-year-old Lianna Moore. “My daughter, she was innocent. She was happy. She was always laughing,” Moore told The Daily News. “She didn’t deserve that.”

The Shooting

Moore was pushing Kaori and her 2-year-old son, Kaizen, in a double stroller when a stray bullet struck Kaori in the head. The bullet also grazed Kaizen’s back. Moore immediately rushed her daughter to Woodhull Hospital, approximately seven blocks away, where Kaori was pronounced dead.

Mother's Account

Moore recounted hearing a sound resembling fireworks before her son reacted with fright. She carried Kaizen while attempting to bring Kaori to safety in a nearby store, only to discover her baby had been hit. “My daughter was just there, laying there,” Moore said. “She was shot in the head. She was just bleeding. It was just too much.”

Family's Grief

Kaori’s grandmother, Linda Oyinkoinyan, described the devastating moment she learned of the shooting. Receiving a frantic call from her daughter, she was forced to hang up due to the intensity of Moore’s distress. “She was screaming. She was frantic. I just passed out in the class,” Oyinkoinyan stated.

The grandmother fondly remembered Kaori as a loving and caring child who “brought a lot of people together.” She also noted that Kaori’s parents had become engaged just three weeks prior to the tragedy.

Police Investigation

The NYPD released surveillance footage of the shooting, showing the gunman firing from a scooter with an accomplice. Police Commissioner Jessica Tisch stated the shooting is believed to be gang-related and Kaori was an unintended target. A 21-year-old person of interest was taken into custody.

Scooter Crash and Arrest

The suspects fled north on Humboldt St., crashing the scooter at Manhattan Ave. Both men were ejected, with one losing both shoes. The rear passenger was taken to Brooklyn Hospital Center and subsequently arrested for a domestic-violence-related robbery. Charges related to the shooting are pending. Police identified the suspect as a known gang associate from NYCHA’s Marcy Houses.