Authorities investigating the fatal shooting of a 7-month-old baby girl in Brooklyn say the suspect told police he was acting in retaliation after the child’s father allegedly fired at him a day earlier, according to the NYPD and court documents cited in the case.
The infant, identified by officials as Kaori Patterson-Moore, was struck and killed by a stray bullet while sitting in her stroller during a daytime shooting earlier this month in East Williamsburg. Her 2-year-old brother was also grazed by a bullet but survived.
Police said the shooting appears to have been part of a retaliatory conflict tied to a dispute involving the child’s father, Jamari Patterson. According to investigators, the intended target of the gunfire was the father, not the children.
In a statement to investigators, the suspect, Amuri Greene, claimed the escalation began a day earlier when Patterson allegedly shot at him first. The suspect told police he believed he was being retaliated against and fired back during the confrontation that ultimately led to the infant being struck.
Chief of Detectives Joseph Kenny said the killing stemmed from a broader “reputation rift” and ongoing tensions between rival groups, which were amplified through social media and local disputes.
Authorities have charged two individuals in connection with the shooting. One suspect is accused of firing from the back of a moped while the other allegedly drove the getaway vehicle. Police say both are facing multiple counts, including murder and assault.
Investigators emphasized that despite the suspect’s claim of being shot at first, the infant had no involvement in the dispute and was caught in what police described as a targeted but reckless act of gun violence.
The case remains under active investigation as prosecutors review evidence and witness statements.
