Full Breakdown
Fatal Shooting of 1-Year-Old Kohen Wiley: Video Release, State Justification, and Ongoing Dispute
By Drooid · · How we work
Core Event
On June 14, 2026, Senatobia Police Sgt. Hunter Foster fired into a gray sedan parked in a Walmart lot. The vehicle contained 1-year-old Kohen Wiley on his mother Vellesiya Wiley’s lap and a second adult passenger. The shot entered the right-hand passenger window, striking the toddler and killing him; the driver was critically injured. Five officers had their guns drawn and shouted “Stop the car” as the vehicle accelerated before the discharge of fire.
Background & Context
The incident began as a response to a shop-lifting call alleging that Vellesiya Wiley and her friend Latoya Ferrell had taken diapers and baby clothing. Neither woman has been charged. The Mississippi Bureau of Investigation conducted a month-long probe and turned its findings to the state Attorney General’s Office. On October 19, 2026, Attorney General Lynn Fitch announced the use of force was “justified” and that no criminal charges would be filed against Foster or other officers.
Data & Statistics
- Victim: Kohen Wiley, age 1.
- Injured adult passenger: Latoya Ferrell, critical injuries to arm and thigh.
- Shots fired: three rounds, one striking the passenger-side window.
- Officers present: five, all with guns drawn.
Official Statements & Responses
Attorney General Fitch said the investigation found “insufficient evidence of criminal conduct” and that the officer’s actions met Mississippi law. The Mississippi Department of Public Safety confirmed the release of body-camera footage after the family reviewed it privately. Senatobia interim police chief Angelica Maze expressed “heartfelt condolences” and acknowledged community concerns.
Criticism & Opposition
Civil-rights attorney Ben Crump, representing the Wiley family, called the justification “excessive from the very start” and demanded a federal investigation. Van Turner, another family attorney, announced plans to petition the Department of Justice. Building Bridges founder Marquell Bridges argued the department’s narrative ignored the family’s right to see the video.
Conflicting Reports & Gaps
Two use-of-force experts reviewed the footage at the request of the Associated Press and reached opposite conclusions. Charles “Joe” Key, a former Baltimore police lieutenant, said the shooting was “objectively reasonable” because the vehicle appeared to be used as a weapon. Independent analyst John P. Gross contended that shooting at a moving vehicle violates best practice and is “almost certainly unjustified.” The family has not been interviewed, and the full body-camera and surveillance videos have not been released to the public, leaving key evidentiary gaps.
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
- “He had no choice but to fire his weapon,” — Martin Zummach
- “This shooting was almost certainly unjustified,” — John P. Gross
- “I watched the video this morning that disgusted me. First, I want to say that the word ‘justified’ have hunted me since Monday. Five officers with guns drawn at a car with two women and a baby. There’s no justification for that,” — Veronica Roberson