The Mississippi Attorney General's Office announced on Monday that a Senatobia police officer’s use of force was justified in a June 14 shooting that resulted in the death of 1-year-old Kohen Wiley and the critical injury of an adult. The decision follows a months-long investigation into the incident, which occurred during a shoplifting call at a Senatobia Walmart.
Mississippi AG confirms justification of force in fatal police shooting of 1-year-old
The attorney general’s office stated in a release that the officer’s actions met legal standards for justified force. The shooting occurred after officers responded to a report of alleged shoplifting involving diapers and baby clothes. According to the Mississippi Bureau of Investigations, officers attempted to stop a vehicle carrying Wiley’s mother, Vellesiya Wiley, her son Kohen, and a family friend. The bureau reported that the driver allegedly drove toward officers, prompting one to open fire.
Officials cite vehicle movement as justification for shooting
The attorney general’s statement did not provide further details about the shooting, including whether body-camera footage exists or has been reviewed. Surveillance footage from the scene has not been publicly released. The Mississippi Bureau of Investigations submitted its investigative findings to the attorney general’s office in September, as required by state law.
Family attorney disputes official account of incident
Attorneys for the Wiley family, including civil rights attorney Ben Crump, have challenged the official narrative. In a statement, Crump questioned the justification of the shooting, stating, “A 1-year-old baby was shot and killed by a police officer, and now the state of Mississippi says that use of force was justified. How can anyone accept that conclusion when Kohen’s family and the public still have not been allowed to see the body-camera footage?” Crump also cited a preliminary independent autopsy that suggested Kohen was shot from the side of the vehicle, contradicting claims that the car was moving toward officers.
Mother denies theft allegations
Vellesiya Wiley, who is Black, has denied stealing anything and disputed that the vehicle was heading toward police. In a video released days after the shooting, she stated that officers escalated the situation without cause. The incident has contributed to ongoing tensions between the Senatobia Police Department and the city’s Black community, which has seen prior allegations of excessive force, including a 2023 incident involving a Taser and a Black woman’s arrest.
No charges filed; investigation closed
The attorney general’s office did not indicate any further legal action against the involved officer. The case remains closed under the state’s findings. The Wiley family has not indicated whether civil litigation will be pursued.