A Mississippi police officer involved in a fatal shooting that killed a 1-year-old boy has resigned, according to local officials. Officer Hunter Foster resigned from the Senatobia Police Department, Mayor Greg Graves confirmed to CBS News on Friday. Foster’s resignation follows a state investigation that concluded his use of force was justified.
The shooting occurred on June 14 in the parking lot of a Walmart in Senatobia. Officers responded to an unrelated call at the store when they approached a moving vehicle and ordered it to stop. When the car did not stop, Foster fired into the vehicle. Kohen Wiley, 1 year old, was in the car and died from the shooting, authorities confirmed.
The Mississippi Bureau of Investigation released body camera footage of the incident on Thursday, following an announcement from the state Attorney General’s Office that the shooting was justified. The investigation, conducted by the Mississippi Bureau of Investigation, found that the driver of the vehicle attempted to run over the officer, according to Mississippi Gov. Tate Reeves. Reeves stated that investigators determined it was "very clear" the driver’s actions posed a threat.
Family and Legal Response
Members of Kohen Wiley’s family viewed the body camera footage privately before its public release. Civil rights attorney Ben Crump, representing the family, criticized the state’s decision not to press charges, calling the officer’s actions "excessive" and "not justified." Crump stated that the family believes the shooting could have been avoided if the officer had moved out of the way instead of firing. The family has called for a federal investigation into the incident.
Government and Institutional Reactions
Gov. Reeves, who had not viewed the body camera footage, expressed sympathy for the child’s family while reiterating his trust in the state’s investigative process. "Absolutely tragic, and anyone should be focused on praying for that loss of life, and the people who loved that young child," Reeves said. He added that the investigation found the driver’s actions were a direct threat to the officer.
The Mississippi Attorney General’s Office announced its findings on Monday, concluding that the use of force by the Senatobia Police Department was justified. The decision was based on the Mississippi Bureau of Investigation’s probe, which reviewed the circumstances surrounding the shooting. The body camera footage was released to the public following the announcement, providing visual evidence of the incident.
Police Department and Legal Proceedings
The Senatobia Police Department has not publicly detailed additional disciplinary actions beyond Foster’s resignation. The officer’s lawyer has maintained that Foster had no choice but to fire because the vehicle was moving toward him. The resignation does not preclude further legal or administrative actions, as the case remains under review by state and federal authorities at the family’s request.