Tragic Shooting Claims Life of 7-Month-Old in Brooklyn
A father is expressing his grief after his 7-month-old daughter was struck by a stray bullet in Brooklyn. In a letter shared on Saturday, he mentioned that he had been trying to turn his life around when the tragic event unfolded.
Kaori Patterson Moore was fatally shot while her parents were strolling with her and her 2-year-old brother at the corner of Humboldt Street and Moore Street in Bushwick. A man on a moped reportedly fired the gun.
Authorities suspect that Kaori’s father, Jamari Patterson, was the intended target of the gunfire.
“I had dreams of being the best father to her,” he wrote in his letter, released following a community meeting on Saturday.
He reminisced about his daughter’s struggles when she was born premature. “I couldn’t wait to bring her home and just hold her tight,” he wrote.
After graduating from a program, Patterson reflected on the changes in his life following the birth of his daughter. “When I saw her, I knew she was special,” he shared, expressing his commitment to creating a better life for his family through music. He even changed jobs to distance himself from negativity, emphasizing that he was making an effort.
The aftermath of the shooting has left him devastated. “I honestly don’t know what to do,” he lamented. “I just took her out to have her ears pierced. She had just taken her first step toward me; now that’s all I have left.” He expressed immense sorrow, stating, “I miss her so much. I want my baby back.”
This heart-wrenching letter surfaced as Kaori’s family gathered for her wake, alongside about 50 other mourners.
“We are hurting,” said her great-grandmother, Arlene Poitier. “We’re angry. Our family is broken, and I just can’t accept that she’s gone.” She recalled how Kaori used to sleep in her room, and the absence left a painful void.
“She would open her eyes and look at me. Now, she’s just not here.” Poitier’s grief was palpable as she spoke about her cherished memories.
Questions linger in the family’s mind, especially regarding why this happened. Poitier’s grandson wonders, “What could possibly lead someone to do this to an innocent baby?”
In a tragic twist, the bullet that struck Kaori also grazed her sibling.
New York State Attorney General Letitia James joined the vigil and expressed gratitude to the NYPD for their swift action in arresting the two men suspected of the shooting. She called for the fullest prosecution of the suspects, emphasizing that there should be no excuses for such violence.
The primary suspect, Amri Green, 21, who allegedly fired the shot, was treated for injuries he sustained during the incident and has been charged with multiple offenses, including murder. The accomplice, 18-year-old Matthew Rodriguez, was arrested later in Pennsylvania.
As for the community, the shooting raised broader concerns about violence and the role of adults in setting a moral compass for the young. Kaori’s grandmother pointed out a collective failure across generations, lamenting the lack of guidance many young people have today.
“Every generation has missed the mark in some way,” she said. “It’s crucial that we teach our children the right values.” This incident underscores the urgent need for change and a return to nurturing the youth.
