Full Breakdown
Officer’s Resignation After Toddler’s Fatal Shooting at Senatobia Walmart
By Drooid · · How we work
Background & Context
On June 14, 2026, Senatobia Police Sergeant Hunter Foster responded to a Walmart after a shop-lifting call. A store employee reported two women—Vellesiya Wiley and a friend—running from the store with a child. The women entered a gray Ford Fusion; the driver backed out, struck a parked car and then accelerated toward the officers, who had their guns drawn. No criminal charges were filed against Foster or the civilians.
Timeline
- June 14, 2026 – Foster fires three shots, killing 1-year-old Kohen Wiley and wounding the driver.
- June 16, 2026 – Foster placed on administrative leave.
- July 7, 2026 – Activist Patrick Lumumba questions the investigation before the city board.
- September 1, 2026 – Former chief Harold Vanderford dismissed after a separate scandal.
- September 5, 2026 (scheduled) – Interim chief Angelica Maze acknowledges community concerns.
- October 21, 2026 – Board of aldermen accepts Foster’s resignation.
- October 23, 2026 – Mississippi DPS releases body-camera footage; Mayor Greg Graves confirms the resignation.
Core Event
While attempting to stop the vehicle, Foster stepped in front of it, placed his hands on the hood and fired three rounds. The shots shattered the front-passenger window where Kohen was seated on his mother’s lap; the child died at a local hospital. The driver sustained critical injuries and was airlifted for treatment.
Official Statements & Responses
- Lynn Fitch (Attorney General) – Declared the use of force “justified” after a month-long review.
- Jay Hale (District Attorney) – Will review the case before deciding on any grand-jury presentation.
- Martin Zummach (Foster’s attorney) – Asserted Foster “had no choice” because the vehicle was moving toward him.
- Angelica Maze (interim chief) – Emphasized respect for community “questions, concerns, and strong emotions.”
- Greg Graves (Mayor) – Confirmed the board’s acceptance of Foster’s resignation.
Criticism & Opposition
Civil-rights attorney Ben Crump, representing the Wiley family, called the shooting “excessive from the very start” and urged a federal DOJ investigation and Foster’s decertification. Grandmother Veronica Roberson described the justification ruling as a “haunt” and expressed disgust at learning of it through news reports rather than direct contact.
Data & Statistics
- Shots fired: three.
- Fatalities: one (Kohen Wiley, 1 year old).
- Injuries: one adult driver (critical) and a passenger (non-critical).
- Officers present: five with guns drawn; only Foster discharged his firearm.
Conflicting Reports & Gaps
- Police narrative: MBI and state officials say the driver “drove toward the officers” and “nearly struck” one, justifying lethal force.
- Family’s account: Wiley says the driver was backing away and she raised the baby to show officers a child was present.
- Expert analysis: Former Baltimore lieutenant Charles “Joe” Key deemed the shooting “objectively reasonable,” while use-of-force expert John P. Gross questioned whether Foster needed to place himself in the vehicle’s path.
What’s Next
The Wiley family, through attorneys Ben Crump and Van Turner, is petitioning the DOJ for a federal civil-rights investigation. District Attorney Jay Hale indicated a pending review that could lead to future grand-jury consideration. Foster’s resignation ends his tenure with the Senatobia Police Department, but his certification status remains under review by state authorities.