Grieving family members and mourners packed a funeral home in Bedford-Stuyvesant on April 14 at the memorial service for a seven-month-old baby who was slain in Brooklyn, the victim of a stray bullet. With them was Rev. Al Sharpton, who condemned the killing and called for stronger community mentorship so these types of situations never happen again. “This is a wake up call. God gave this child a life and took it away to wake you up,” said Sharpton in his eulogy speech. After the service, Sharpton spoke to reporters outside the funeral home. “About 37 years ago I did a eulogy in the same funeral home for Yusef Hawkins who was killed in Bensonhurst in a racial incident. We marched when others killed him, we need to have that same vigor and energy when people are killing each other.”
Kaori Patterson-Moore was out with her family April 1 when a drive-by shooting took place near the corner of Moore and Humboldt Streets in Williamsburg. Two suspects, driving a moped scooter, shot into a crowd and Kaori was struck. Her father rushed her to the hospital where she was pronounced dead. Her two-year-old brother was grazed in the back by a bullet but survived.
Two suspects have been taken into custody. On Tuesday, one of the suspects, Mathew Rodriguez, pleaded not guilty to second degree murder. He is currently being held without bail. Police say Rodriguez drove the moped while the alleged shooter, Amuri Greene, rode on the back.
He was scheduled for arraignment April 15. Meanwhile, family members at the funeral expressed their grief in heartfelt speeches, recalling moments with Kaori. Some mention moments where she could look up and sense people’s presence and energy. New York Attorney General Letitia James, also in attendance, said she hopes the justice system will prosecute the murderers to the furthest extent of the law. She also remains hopeful that brighter days are to come and that the community will recover.
“Death will not be victorious today, ” said James. “This crime will not define this community.”
Sharpton also said that the National Action Network will do whatever it can to support the family, even if they are in need of financial help. He said, it’s more than just a stray bullet that killed Kaori.
“The problem is that we have a stray theology,” said Sharpton.