Warning: This article contains discussion of baby loss which some readers may find distressing.
A seven-month-old baby girl was killed by a stray bullet on Wednesday during what investigators believe was a gang-related shooting in New York City.
On April 1, Lianna Charles-Moore was walking in Brooklyn while pushing her daughter, Kaori, in a stroller. Her two-year-old son was also with her when shots were fired from a man riding on a moped toward a nearby group.
Authorities do not believe the shooter was targeting the mother or her children, but one of the bullets struck Kaori in the head. She later died from her injuries.
Reports also state the toddler’s back was grazed by a bullet.
New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani commented on the tragedy in remarks reported by CNN.
“There are no words that can mend the heartbreak this family is feeling right now,”
“A life that had barely begun was taken in an instant.”
Lianna later spoke about losing her daughter, saying Kaori should never have been caught up in the violence.
“My daughter was innocent,”
“She didn’t deserve that. We were just going outside to go get her a few things, and my son a few things.
“My son got impacted with everything that happened, yeah, so it was just too much, because they could have killed my son and my daughter.”
She also shared that Kaori had recently learned to say “mama” and was close to crawling.
Lianna’s mother, Linda Moore Oyinkoinyan, described the moment she learned her granddaughter had been shot.
“My daughter called me at my job. She was screaming. I had to hang up on her. She was scaring me.
“She said, ‘They shot Kaori in the head.’ She was screaming. She was frantic. I just passed out in the class.”
Oyinkoinyan said Kaori was “loving,” “caring,” and “always smiling,” and spoke about the joy the baby brought to those around her.
“The baby was very beautiful. She brought a lot of people together.”
Police say an investigation is ongoing. Two men were reportedly on the moped involved; one suffered injuries after the vehicle crashed roughly two blocks from the scene.
That man was transported to Brooklyn Hospital and has been identified as a person of interest, according to reports.
The New York Police Department is continuing its search for the second suspect.
If you have experienced a bereavement and would like to speak with someone in confidence, contact The Compassionate Friends on (877) 969-0010.