“I Didn’t Do It” [WATCH]

A 7-month-old Brooklyn girl killed by a stray bullet earlier this month was laid to rest Tuesday, as one of the suspects charged in the case appeared in court and denied involvement in the shooting, as reported by The New York Post.

Kaori Patterson-Moore was honored in a funeral procession that followed a private service for family members. Mourners gathered, wearing pink, and said their goodbyes as the infant was placed in a small pink Minnie Mouse casket.

The casket was carried through a cemetery in a horse-drawn carriage led by a white horse.

ALERT: 7-month-old girl who was killed by a stray bullet was laid to rest in a pink Minnie Mouse casket that was pulled by a white horse carriage in New York.

The funeral for Kaori Patterson-Moore was held at Kingdom of Life Ministries, with family wearing pink in her honor and… pic.twitter.com/odYMX8BgST

— E X X ➠A L E R T S (@ExxAlerts) April 14, 2026

The funeral came as 18-year-old Matthew Rodriguez, identified by police as the alleged driver in the April 1 shooting, was escorted from the NYPD’s 90th Precinct to face charges in Brooklyn Supreme Court.

Here’s What They’re Not Telling You About Your Retirement

Rodriguez, who has been charged with second-degree murder, maintained his innocence as he was led out in handcuffs.

“I didn’t do it,” Rodriguez said.

“I didn’t know it was gonna happen. It’s not my fault. I didn’t pull the trigger,” he added. “I promise, I didn’t know he was going to do that. I didn’t know he was going to pull the trigger.”

Matthew Rodriguez, the alleged getaway driver responsible for gunning down 7-month-old Kaori Patterson-Moore, begs forgiveness: “I didn’t know.” pic.twitter.com/Alzje9F65W

— Dean_Moses (@Dean_Moses) April 14, 2026

Authorities allege Rodriguez was operating a moped during the incident while another suspect, identified as Amuri Greene, fired shots on a Williamsburg street.

This Could Be the Most Important Video Gun Owners Watch All Year

According to police, the gunfire struck Kaori, who was sitting in a stroller. Her 2-year-old brother, who was also in the stroller, was grazed by a bullet.

Prosecutors said Rodriguez and Greene were working together at the time of the shooting. During court proceedings, Brooklyn Assistant District Attorney Christopher Mirabella described the sequence of events.

Rodriguez, “acting in concert” with Greene, drove a moped while speeding against traffic through the streets and on the sidewalks in Brooklyn on a sunny Wednesday afternoon,” turning “what should have been a beautiful day for Koari Patterson-Moore and her family into a waking nightmare,” Mirabella said.

Following the shooting, authorities allege Rodriguez fled the scene with Greene and later handled the firearm.

“He assisted by driving [Greene]. He assisted by taking off after the shooting,” Brooklyn District Attorney Eric Gonzalez said after the arraignment.

Gonzalez added, “After the crash, he picked up the firearm. That firearm has not been recovered.”

Rodriguez has been charged in a 17-count indictment that includes murder, attempted murder, criminal possession of a weapon, endangering the welfare of a child, and hindering prosecution.

He pleaded not guilty through his attorney during the arraignment and was ordered held without bail.

Prosecutors indicated that their focus remains on locating the weapon used in the shooting. Gonzalez told reporters his office has “a very strong case.”

Greene, the alleged shooter, is expected to be arraigned on the charges on Wednesday.

Today: 21 year old Amuri Greene pleads Not Guilty to the murder of a 7-month-old baby girl in Brooklyn earlier this month. @CBSNewYork pic.twitter.com/KZoNoVYGiF

— Ali Bauman (@AliBaumanTV) April 15, 2026

The fatal shooting took place on April 1 and has drawn widespread attention as details of the case continue to unfold.

The funeral for Kaori Patterson-Moore marked a somber moment for family and friends as the legal proceedings move forward.

Warning: Account balances and purchasing power no longer tell the same story. Know in 2 minutes if your retirement is working for you.

The opinions expressed by contributors and/or content partners are their own and do not necessarily reflect the views of LifeZette. Contact us for guidelines on submitting your own commentary.