'I forgive them.' Grandmother of 7-month-old killed by stray bullet speaks with News 12
Police say one of two men on a moped fired shots into a crowd of people on Humboldt and Moore streets in Bushwick Wednesday, around 1:20 p.m.
Linda Oyinkoinyan says her 7-month-old granddaughter, Kaori Patterson-Moore, was learning to walk and say words like 'Mama' when her life was cut short on Wednesday.
“I miss you and love you. I’m never, ever going to be able to shake this off," said Oyinkoinyan.
Police say one of two men on a moped fired shots into a crowd of people on Humboldt and Moore streets in Bushwick Wednesday, around 1:20 p.m.
Patterson-Moore was sitting in a stroller when she was struck in the head by a stray bullet.
A family friend, Denee Phillips, says it's heartbreaking and the community is sick of the violence.
“Bullets don’t have no name, they don’t know who they supposed to hit," said Phillips.
Police say the baby’s father rushed her to NYC Health + Hospitals/Woodhull, but she did not survive.
Oyinkoinyan tells News 12 the family almost lost two children that day.
“Her brother that’s 2 years old, he got hit too. He got grazed. He told me a few times that he's not OK, Grandma. ‘I'm not OK,’" said Oyinkoinyan.
Candles and stuffed animals sit where the shooting happened.
Investigators believe the shooting was gang-related.
Thomas Haynes from the anti-violence group Tailor Made For a King says the violence needs to end.
"That's not gangster. Shooting someone that don't have anything to do with what you're doing isn't gangster, that's cowardly stuff," said Haynes.
Police say 21-year-old Amuri Green is in custody and charged with murder and two counts of attempted murder. They suspect he may be related to a local gang.
Authorities say they have identified the driver of the moped but have not released that person’s name. That person is still being sought.
“I mean, I forgive them. I just want to God, I pray that God save them. We just want justice for Kaori," said Oyinkoinyan.
Police say they're investigating the possibility that the bullet may have been intended for the baby's father.
Anyone with information is asked to call Crime Stoppers at 800-577-TIPS.
