Full Breakdown
Infant Kohen Wiley Killed by Police in Senatobia, Mississippi, Sparks Protests and Calls for Transparency
6/29/2026, 1:27:21 AM
Fatal Shooting at a Walmart Parking Lot
On June 14, 2026, police responding to a shop-lifting call at a Walmart in Senatobia, Mississippi, fired into a vehicle’s passenger side, striking 1-year-old Kohen Kartier Wiley, who was on his mother’s lap. The bullet killed the child; the driver, a friend of the mother, was critically injured.
Background: Alleged Diaper Theft
Authorities said the call concerned allegedly stolen diapers, though no shop-lifting charges have been filed. The Mississippi Department of Public Safety (DPS) reported that officers saw “two subjects and a juvenile child fleeing from the store into a vehicle” and that the driver “almost struck” an officer before shots were fired.
Key Individuals and Groups
- Vellesiya Wiley – mother of Kohen.
- Sgt. Hunter Foster – Senatobia police officer present.
- Mississippi Bureau of Investigation (MBI) – leading the criminal investigation.
Timeline of Events
- June 14 – Shooting occurs; child dies, driver injured.
- June 26 – Approximately 100 protesters gather outside the Walmart; police deploy tear gas.
- The victim was a 1-year-old boy; about 100 demonstrators gathered; the incident occurred in Senatobia, ~40 miles north of Memphis.
Official Statements & Agency Accounts
DPS said officers tried to stop vehicle, which “drove in direction of officers, striking one,” and MBI opened a case, saying footage will stay sealed.
Criticism, Opposition, and Community Response
Family and protesters dispute the police narrative, saying the driver was not trying to hit anyone. They demand release of body-camera and security video, chanting “Justice for him! Kohen Wiley” and “Say his name: Kohen Wiley!” Attorney Van Turner called the killing unjust.
Verbatim Quotes
- “I watched my baby take his first breath, and I watched my baby take his last breath,” — Vellesiya Wiley, mother
- “There is nothing in that Walmart store that is more precious than a baby,” — Van Turner, civil-rights attorney
- “It’s horrible for them to do the community like this … we got businesses locking their doors like we’re trying to harm them,” — Tyesha Cox, family friend
- “They just need to listen to the community and let us get justice. If they feel the police did right, then why they haven’t released any footage?” — Tyesha Cox
What’s Next
The MBI continues its investigation while community leaders plan a town-hall meeting featuring Fred Hampton Jr. and local organizers. The family seeks full disclosure of video evidence, and activists intend to maintain pressure on law-enforcement agencies for accountability. The town-hall will also address police policies and community-police dialogue.
