Second Suspect Arrested in Brooklyn Drive-By Killing of Baby

A second man has been arrested in connection with the shooting death of 7-month-old Kaori Patterson-Moore, who was struck by stray gunfire while sitting in her stroller on a Brooklyn street on April 1, 2026. Matthew Rodriguez, 18, was apprehended in Pennsylvania on April 3 by NYPD detectives working in coordination with U.S. Marshals, according to CNN. The arrest came two days after the suspected shooter, 21-year-old Amuri Greene, was taken into custody shortly after the drive-by shooting.

Greene was arraigned Friday night and pleaded not guilty to murder and other charges. He was held without bail. Police charges against Rodriguez were pending as of the time of reporting, and authorities had not yet released court documents detailing his alleged role in the incident.

How the Shooting Unfolded

According to a court complaint cited by CNN, Greene was riding on the back of a moped driven by a second man when he fired into a group of people standing on a street corner. The moped sped away after the shooting and crashed into a car two blocks from the scene. Both men were thrown from the vehicle. Greene sustained injuries and was taken to a hospital in police custody. Rodriguez fled the scene on foot.

Kaori’s mother, Lianna Charles-Moore, was present when her daughter was shot, according to the New York Post as cited by CNN. She had initially believed the sounds she heard were fireworks and was attending to her 2-year-old son - who had been grazed by a bullet - when she saw her infant daughter bleeding. Kaori had been shot in the head. According to the court complaint, Greene told police he had been aiming for another individual in the crowd.

City Officials Respond

New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani and Police Commissioner Jessica Tisch both addressed the shooting publicly following Kaori’s death. Tisch called it “a tragedy that truly shocks the conscience,” according to CNN. The commissioner and the mayor appeared together at a news briefing on April 1, with Chief of Detectives Joseph Kenny also present.

Greene’s attorney, Jay Schwitzman, told reporters after his client’s arraignment that he would conduct “an independent and thorough investigation of the facts and circumstances of this tragic incident,” according to CNN. Authorities had not indicated they were searching for additional suspects beyond the gunman and the moped driver.

Investigation Status

As of the time of reporting, formal charges against Rodriguez had not yet been filed and authorities had not released information about how the two men knew each other. Rodriguez’s place of residence was not immediately confirmed. Police indicated they were not looking for any additional individuals in connection with the shooting.

Kaori Patterson-Moore was 7 months old. Her mother described her as a child who had recently begun crawling and had started saying “Mama,” according to CNN. Greene’s next court date had not been announced at the time of the second arrest.

References: 2nd man arrested in drive-by shooting that killed 7-month-old girl in Brooklyn | Both suspects indicted in drive-by shooting that killed 7-month-old Kaori in Brooklyn