Mississippi Officer Kills 1-Year-Old Kohen Wiley in Walmart Shooting, June 16

A Senatobia, Mississippi police officer shot and killed 1-year-old Kohen Wiley on June 14 while responding to a shoplifting call at a Walmart. The officer fired at a vehicle carrying the child, his mother, and an adult who was critically injured. The Mississippi Bureau of Investigation is investigating. Civil rights attorney Ben Crump has been retained by the family.

What Happened at the Walmart

Officers from the Senatobia Police Department and Tate County Sheriff’s Department responded to a shoplifting call at a Walmart on U.S. 51 on June 14. Two adults and a child exited the store and entered a silver sedan in the parking lot. Police attempted to stop the vehicle, but the driver drove in the direction of officers and nearly struck one, according to the Mississippi Department of Public Safety. An officer then discharged their weapon. The vehicle fled and arrived at a local hospital, where Kohen was pronounced dead. Another adult suffered critical injuries. No officers were seriously hurt.

Conflicting Accounts of the Incident

Police stated the driver drove toward officers in a threatening manner. However, cellphone video obtained by Fox 13 Memphis shows the car driving away from officers but does not show the shooting or the car swerving toward them. A photo of the vehicle shows multiple bullet holes in the windshield. The family denies any shoplifting occurred. A witness reported seeing two women exit the store, one carrying a box of diapers and one carrying the infant. The DPS statement acknowledges that police saw Kohen before the shooting began. The officer has not been identified.

Legal Response and Investigation

Civil rights attorney Ben Crump and attorney Van Turner were retained by the family on June 16. Crump stated that Kohen’s mother tried to tell officers there was a baby in the car before they fired. The Mississippi Bureau of Investigation is leading the probe and will submit findings to the state attorney general’s office. The family is calling for immediate release of all body camera and dash camera footage. Kohen’s grandfather, Carlos Haynes, said he was looking forward to watching his grandson grow.

Questions About Police Response

In Mississippi, shoplifting is a misdemeanor punishable by a fine or a few months in jail. The incident has prompted renewed examination of how the Senatobia Police Department handles encounters involving children, including a separate case involving a 10-year-old. Walmart issued a statement saying it was saddened by what took place and is working with law enforcement. Senatobia is about 40 miles south of Memphis, Tennessee.

Final Thoughts

A 1-year-old died after police fired into a vehicle during a shoplifting response in Mississippi. The shooting raises questions about police use of force and the justification for deadly response to minor offenses.

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