One-Year-Old Killed by Mississippi Police During Walmart Incident
A 1-year-old boy died after police opened fire on a vehicle fleeing a Walmart in Senatobia, Mississippi, prompting a funeral service and calls for the release of body-camera footage.
A 1-year-old child, Kohen Wiley, was fatally shot on June 14 in a Walmart parking lot in Senatobia, Mississippi, after police responding to a shoplifting call pursued a vehicle with two adults and the child inside. The Mississippi Bureau of Investigation said an officer fired when the driver allegedly nearly struck an officer, though the child's mother, Vellesiya Wiley, contended the driver was attempting to leave the scene without harming anyone. The driver, identified as a friend of the family, was critically injured in the exchange.
The family held a funeral service at Hosanna Family Worship Center, where Reverend Keri Henson spoke of the child's close bond with his parents and grandparents. Civil-rights attorneys Van Turner and Ben Crump, who represent the family, urged the release of body-camera footage and described the shooting as unjustified. Turner said the incident stemmed from a call about allegedly stolen diapers and called for “Justice for Baby Kohen.”
Local officials have not named the officer who fired, and the department said the officer was placed on administrative leave. The investigation remains ongoing, with authorities stating that video will not be released until the probe is complete.
