Mississippi police shooting of one-year-old released on video after attorney general deems it justified

Mississippi Attorney General Lynn Fitch said on Monday that the police shooting of one-year-old Kohen Wiley was "justified," and video of the incident was subsequently made public, according to local reporting. The footage shows five officers with guns drawn approaching a vehicle that contained the child's mother, Vellesiya Wiley, a friend, Latoya Ferrell, and the infant.

Attorneys Ben Crump and Van Turner, representing the Wiley family, held a press conference at the Senatobia Church of Christ on Thursday after the family viewed the video. During the briefing, the child's maternal grandmother, Veronica Roberson, expressed that the term "justified" has haunted her since the announcement and criticized the lack of direct communication with the family.

"The word ‘justified’ has haunted me since Monday," Roberson said, adding that she learned of the incident through news sources rather than a direct call.

Crump described the video as showing officers approaching the women and child with firearms drawn and questioned the use of lethal force in response to a shoplifting allegation involving a pack of diapers. He noted that neither woman was arrested for the alleged misdemeanor.

"We’re the most prosperous nation in the world and we’re going to draw guns to shoot people over misdemeanor allegations of baby diapers?" Crump said.

Kohen’s paternal grandmother, Lasandra Williams, also spoke, saying she struggled to understand how the shooting could be considered justified.

"After what I’ve seen today, I’m having a difficult time understanding the word ‘justified,’" Williams said.

Crump and Turner, joined by family members and representatives of local civil-rights groups, called for a federal investigation into the shooting. Investigators are expected to release the full video later in the afternoon. The child's second birthday falls on 1 November.