7-month-old baby girl in stroller shot and killed in East Williamsburg; suspect in custody
Police say they are still searching for a second suspect
EAST WILLIAMSBURG, Brooklyn (WABC) -- One suspect is in custody and police are searching for another after a 7-month-old child was shot and killed while with her mother in Brooklyn on Wednesday afternoon.
It happened at Humboldt and Moore streets around 1 p.m.
Officials say the child, identified as 7-month-old Kaori Patterson-Moore, was being pushed in a stroller by her mother when the shots were fired nearby.
Witnesses say they heard three shots.
"I thought it was fireworks but then it hit me in my leg. I got little metal pieces in my leg," said witness Bernius Maldonado.
As people ran for cover, the baby's mother, father and older sibling fled to a nearby bodega. The mother's screams could be heard from outside as she realized her child had been hit, in what police are calling a gang-related shooting.
"When she moved there, she saw the other baby bleeding. Then she started crying and went crazy," said deli worker Abdul Alzokari.
The child's father ran to the nearby Woodhull Hospital with the baby, where she was pronounced dead.
Police were searching for two males who fled north on a black moped on Humboldt Street. One was wearing a white hoodie and another was holding what appears to be a gun and was wearing a black hoodie.
Police tracked the moped to 50 Warsoff Pl., about a mile away from the scene.
Police say video shows the moped continuing northbound, heading the wrong way on Humboldt Street. The footage then shows the scooter crash into an oncoming car at Manhattan Avenue and Siegel Street, two blocks from the scene, and both men are thrown from the scooter. The rear passenger, the alleged gunman, landed so hard on the pavement that he lost both of his shoes, which were later recovered by police.
Workers at a nearby deli say the suspects' firearm was flung into the street.
"It looks like it's a gun. Yeah, a pistol, gun, something like that. Also, they left on the floor a couple of stuff like a sandal. I picked up the sandal and gave it to the police," said deli worker Domingo Bonilla.
The alleged gunman could be seen limping after the collision. He was taken by EMS to Brooklyn Hospital. Investigators believe that this person fits the description of the shooter, based on both clothing and appearance.
The 21-year-old suspect is now in custody on an unrelated domestic violence-related robbery, and detectives are working to determine his possible involvement in this shooting incident. Police say he is known to be a gang associate from the Marcy Houses.
The outstanding suspect still being sought is a young male described as wearing light gray pants and a white t-shirt with a black surgical mask over his lower face. He was last seen fleeing towards the Marcy Houses.
Police released an image of the person they are looking for, and say he is "the subject of a massive NYPD manhunt."
"All New York City police officers have a very clear picture of this outstanding suspect on their phones," NYPD Commissioner Jessica Tisch said. "In addition, NYPD bloodhounds are currently working to track his movements."
Mayor Zohran Mamdani has called the shooting a tragedy.
"There are no words that can mend the heartbreak this family is feeling now, no declaration strong enough to lift the grief they are now forced to carry, no embrace wide enough to heal the hole that has been left in their lives," Mamdani said during a press briefing with NYPD officials on Wednesday evening.
Gov. Kathy Hochul said the tragedy is a "horrific reminder of why we are redoubling our efforts to combat gun violence."
Anyone with information regarding this incident is asked to call the NYPD's Crime Stoppers Hotline at 1-800-577-TIPS (8477) or for Spanish, 1-888-57-PISTA (74782). The public can also submit their tips by logging onto the Crime Stoppers website at https://crimestoppers.nypdonline.org/, on X @NYPDTips.
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