7-Month-Old Fatally Shot in Brooklyn

The East Williamsburg neighborhood of Brooklyn is in mourning following the tragic death of 7-month-old Kaori Patterson-Moore. The infant was fatally shot on April 1, 2026, while in her stroller with her mother.

Details of the Shooting

The shooting occurred just after 1:20 p.m. near the corner of Humboldt and Moore Streets. Kaori was struck in the head by a stray bullet fired by a suspect on a moped with another individual. She was rushed to Woodhull Hospital, where she was pronounced dead.

Community Reaction and Memorial

Residents expressed shock and despair in the wake of the tragedy. A makeshift memorial has been established outside 140 Moore Street, where the child’s father resides. Hundreds of candles, some shaped like hearts and bearing the baby’s initials, and a pink stuffed bunny adorn the memorial.

Family and Witness Accounts

Kaori’s grandmother shared that the baby had recently begun taking her first steps. “This doesn’t define her. Everybody loves her. She was just starting to call me mom,” she told amNewYork.

Mia Torres, a family friend, recounted witnessing the mother’s frantic reaction. “She was screaming: ‘My daughter got shot. My daughter got shot,’” Torres said. She added that she had been relentlessly sharing about the baby on social media since the incident.

Seeking Refuge and Discovering the Injury

According to witnesses, the parents sought refuge with their 7-month-old and 2-year-old son in a nearby bodega after the shots were fired. A worker at Sem Sem Deli stated that they were unaware of the baby’s injury until the mother and child entered the store. The 2-year-old boy reportedly sustained a graze wound.

Neighborhood Concerns and Calls for Change

Local resident Gregory Martinez, who heard the shooting from his apartment, expressed his frustration with the recurring violence in the area. “The community has to get back together. We need to start making changes,” he stated, recalling a similar shooting incident approximately a year and a half prior.

Another resident, who wished to remain anonymous, described receiving a lockdown alert from her children’s school. “Everybody knows that family. Everybody knows the kids they play in front of the building. She just started life,” she said.

A Somber Atmosphere

Residents described a palpable sense of grief and a change in the atmosphere following the shooting. One woman noted a dark cloud and light rain, associating the weather with the tragedy and describing the neighborhood’s aura as “dead.”

Ongoing Investigation

Charges are pending against one of the two suspects involved in the shooting, and a manhunt is underway for the remaining perpetrator. Police were stationed at the scene to maintain order and investigate the incident.