Full Breakdown
Mississippi Attorney General Declares Officer’s Use of Force Justified in Death of 1-Year-Old
By Drooid · · How we work
Core Event
On June 14, 2026, a Senatobia police officer fired into a vehicle in the Walmart parking lot, striking 1-year-old Kohen Wiley and wounding his mother’s friend. The Mississippi Attorney General’s Office concluded the officer’s use of force was justified, closing the criminal case against the officer.
Background & Context
Senatobia, a city of roughly 8,000 residents about 40 miles south of Memphis, has a history of contentious police interactions with Black community members. In 2023 an officer threatened a Black woman with a Taser over a handicapped-spot dispute at the same Walmart. In 2025 former Police Chief Harold Vanderford was removed after reports of racist text messages. These incidents have strained trust between the department and the city’s Black residents.
Key Figures & Groups
- Lynn Fitch – Mississippi Attorney General.
- Hunter Foster – Senatobia Police Sergeant who fired the shots.
- Vellesiya Wiley – Mother of Kohen Wiley.
- Ben Crump – Civil-rights attorney for the Wiley family.
- John P. Gross – Expert on police use of force.
- Marquell Bridges – Local activist.
- Kabir Karriem – Chairman of the Mississippi Legislative Black Caucus.
Timeline
- June 14, 2026 – Officers respond to a shop-lifting call; a vehicle departs the Walmart lot; an officer fires into the vehicle, killing Kohen Wiley.
- September 2026 – Attorney General’s Office completes its review and announces the use of force was justified.
- October 2026 – Family’s counsel demands release of body-camera and surveillance footage; community protests continue.
Data & Statistics
- Victim: Kohen Wiley, age 1.
- Shots fired: three to four, according to Vellesiya Wiley; one bullet struck the child’s ribcage.
- Vehicle damage: shattered passenger-side window and a bullet hole in the windshield.
- Officer status: placed on administrative leave; no criminal charges filed.
Official Statements & Responses
The Attorney General’s office cited Section 45-1-6 of the Mississippi Code and an MBI investigation that found the officer’s force warranted. The city of Senatobia expressed “deepest sympathy” to the family and noted the decision closed the criminal case.
Criticism & Opposition
Ben Crump has challenged the justification, arguing the lack of released video prevents verification of the state’s narrative. John P. Gross said the shooting was “almost certainly unjustified,” noting best practice would be to avoid firing at a moving vehicle. Activist Marquell Bridges called for transparency, emphasizing the family’s right to the truth.
On-the-Ground Reports
Residents gathered for protests in June and again in October, demanding answers. The Senatobia Committee for Accountability and Transparency (S.C.A.T.) highlighted community anger and called for the release of all video evidence.
Conflicting Reports & Gaps
- State narrative: MBI asserts the vehicle was moving toward officers, justifying the shot.
- Independent autopsy: Indicates the bullet entered from the side, contradicting the claim of a forward-facing threat.
- Evidence availability: Neither body-camera nor Walmart surveillance footage has been released, leaving a critical evidentiary gap.
Verbatim Quotes
- “How can anyone accept that conclusion when Kohen’s family and the public still have not been allowed to see the body-camera footage?” — Ben Crump
- “This shooting was almost certainly unjustified,” — John P. Gross
- “His family deserves the truth. The public deserves transparency,” — Marquell Bridges
What’s Next
Family counsel and civil-rights groups continue to request the release of video. The Mississippi Legislative Black Caucus has called for “answers, respect, and accountability” from state investigators. No further legal actions have been announced, and the criminal case remains closed pending new evidence.