‘I didn’t know it was going to happen.’ Man charged in fatal shooting of baby pleads not guilty
Mathew Rodriguez, 18, is facing charges for attempted murder, criminal possession of a weapon, assault, hindering prosecution and tampering with a witness.
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One of the two men charged in connection with the shooting death of a 7-month-old girl in Bushwick faced a judge on Tuesday.
Matthew Rodriguez, 18, was silent during his arraignment in Downtown Brooklyn -- but he had a lot to say beforehand, as he was escorted out of the 90th NYPD precinct in handcuffs.
“I didn’t do it,” Rodriguez yelled at news reporters. “I didn’t know it was going to happen. I didn’t know it was going to happen! It was not my fault! I didn’t pull the trigger.”
Rodriguez kept his head down as he spoke up about his alleged involvement in the deadly shooting of 7-month-old Kaori Patterson-Moore.
“I promise, I promise I didn’t know!” Rodriguez said. “I didn’t know [Amuri Greene] was going to do that. I did not know he was going to pull the trigger!”
Rodriguez, who was extradited from Pennsylvania back to New York, shook his head as prosecutors detailed the April 1 shooting.
Investigators said Rodriguez was the getaway driver when 21-year-old Amuri Greene fired multiple shots into a crowd on Moore and Humboldt streets in Bushwick.
“[Rodriguez] assisted by driving [Greene],” said Brooklyn District Attorney Eric Gonzalez following the court appearance. “He assisted by taking off after the shooting. He assisted, that after the crash, he picked up the firearm. That firearm has not been recovered.”
Gonzalez said the shooting may have been the result of a conflict over drill rap.
According to investigators, baby Kaori was struck and killed while sitting in her stroller, and another bullet grazed her 2-year-old brother in the back. The two children were not the intended target.
“How did they get the gun?” Gonzalez said. “Where did that gun come from? I’m more concerned about that, as the DA, than who they were shooting at at that moment, because at that moment, we lost a beautiful young girl, and a 2-year-old boy will be scarred forever.”
Rodriguez pleaded not guilty to several charges, including murder, assault and criminal possession of a weapon.
The court appearance took place as the victim’s family laid the baby to rest. The family was not present in the courtroom.
Gonzalez said there will be justice for the family.
“It’s heartbreaking that we’re burying a baby today,” said Gonzalez. “A baby should never be buried because of gun violence. They’re our future. We have failed our young people.”
The judge granted Rodriguez protective custody as he's being held. His next court appearance is scheduled for June 10.
Greene is expected to be arraigned in court on Wednesday.
