SENATOBIA, MISSISSIPPI —
The Mississippi Attorney General’s Office has concluded that an officer’s use of force was justified in the June 14, 2026, shooting that killed one-year-old Kohen Wiley.
This occurred outside a Walmart in Senatobia, Mississippi.
Senatobia police responded to a Walmart parking lot after a report involving baby clothing and diapers.
Kohen was in a vehicle with his mother, Vellesiya Wiley, and another woman who was driving.
An officer fired into the vehicle, striking Kohen and the driver.
Kohen later died from his injuries, and the driver was seriously injured.
The Mississippi Bureau of Investigation’s initial account stated that officers attempted to stop the vehicle and that the driver moved toward officers, nearly striking one.
According to that account, an
officer then fired.
Kohen’s mother disputed the police account, denying that she or her companion stole anything and challenging the claim that the vehicle was driven toward officers.
Civil rights attorney Ben Crump, who represents the family, has also questioned the circumstances of the shooting.
He cited preliminary findings from an independent autopsy that, according to his statements, indicated Kohen was struck by a bullet fired from the side of the vehicle rather than from directly in front.
On October 19, 2026, the Mississippi Attorney General’s Office announced that it had completed its review following an investigation by the Mississippi Bureau of Investigation.
The office stated that it found the use of force justified under the review conducted pursuant to Section 45-1-6 of the Mississippi Code.
Reports state that other investigative records identified Senatobia police Sgt. Hunter Foster in connection with the shooting.
The family has sought access to evidence that could help the public understand what happened, including body-camera footage, dashboard-camera recordings and Walmart surveillance video.
It remains unclear whether or when law enforcement would release footage from the incident.
Kohen’s mother said she has not been interviewed by investigators from the Mississippi Bureau of Investigation.
Kohen’s grandmother, Veronica Roberson, reportedly said she learned of the Attorney General’s decision through Facebook rather than through direct communication from state or local law enforcement.
These reports raise important questions about communication with grieving families, public access to investigative information and how officials explain decisions involving the death of a child.
The absence of a detailed public explanation underscores why clear communication and transparent reporting of investigative findings matter.
Children present during police encounters are especially vulnerable, and their safety must remain a serious consideration.
Justice for Baby Kohen Wiley is a call to ensure that a child’s death is treated with the seriousness it deserves.
That a family’s concerns are heard and that the public receives accurate information about the decisions made in its name.
One child’s life mattered.
His family’s grief matters.
And transparency matters.
