The man accused of shooting 7-month-old Kaori Patterson-Moore in her stroller hobbled on crutches into a Brooklyn courtroom Wednesday and pleaded not guilty to the tot’s shocking murder.
Amuri Greene, 21, held his head down as he was arraigned in Brooklyn Supreme Court, as a prosecutor described how he opened fire from the back of a moped near Humboldt and Moore Sts. in East Williamsburg April 1.
His bullets missed their mark, instead hitting Kaori in the head and wounding her 2-year-old brother, who was also sitting in the stroller, cops saiy.
Greene told cops after his arrest that he was gunning for Kaori’s father, but Brooklyn D.A. Eric Gonzalez has backed away from that motive, telling reporters that he wouldn’t definitively call her dad the target.
The D.A. has said theories about Greene’s motive, which may have involved a gang rivalry and drill rap lyrics, are contuning to evolve.
The other suspect in the case, moped driver Mathew Rodriguez, appeared in court for the first time Tuesday to face murder charges as well, after police tracked him to Pennsylvania. Both men have been indicted on second-degree murder, attempted murder, and several other charges.
Greene, 21, broke his leg when the moped crashed as the duo fled the scene. He gave a fake name in the back of an ambulance, Assistant D.A. Christopher Mirabella said Wednesday.
Judge Danny Chun ordered Greene remain held without bail until his next court appearance June 10. His lawyer reserved the right to make a bail application at a later date.
Gonzalez again told reporters Tuesday that he vowed to Kaori’s family that she would get justice.
“I promised that the men who stole their child’s life would be held accountable and justice will prevail. Both defendants have now been arraigned,” he said. “We will continue to fight for this family, and we will continue to fight to make sure that no family ever has to go through what this family went through.”