Mississippi AG says officer's force was justified in shooting of 1-year-old Kohen Wiley
In short
Mississippi's attorney general said on 19 October that a Senatobia officer was justified in using force when he fired at a car during a shoplifting call, killing 1-year-old Kohen Wiley. The family's attorney, Ben Crump, questioned the conclusion and urged release of body camera video.
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Mississippi's attorney general said a Senatobia officer was justified in using force when he responded to a shoplifting call and fired at a moving vehicle, killing 1-year-old Kohen Wiley, who was inside the car. The Guardian reported that the office of Attorney General Lynn Fitch announced the finding on Monday, four months after the shooting. [ 1 , 6 ]
In a brief statement, the attorney general's office said it had completed the review of a 14 June 2026 incident in Senatobia involving one officer and found the use of force was justified. The Mississippi Bureau of Investigation conducted the investigation. [ 7 ]
According to AP, the shooting occurred as Senatobia officers responded to a shoplifting call at a Walmart, where they saw Vellesiya Wiley, Kohen's mother, carrying her son as she and a friend left the store, got into a car and began driving away. Police believed they stole diapers and baby clothes. Kohen's mother has denied she or her friend stole anything, and neither has been charged, according to online state and county court records. The Guardian named the friend as Latoya Ferrell and said she was wounded. [ 1 , 4 , 6 ]
In a report on 14 June, the Mississippi Bureau of Investigation said that officers attempted to stop the vehicle, but the driver drove in the direction of the officers, almost striking one. Vellesiya Wiley disputed that account in a video released days after the shooting. [ 3 , 6 , 7 ]
Martin Zummach, who represents the officer who fired the fatal shot, told The Associated Press that the findings cleared his client of criminal wrongdoing. He said the driver 'tried to kill' his client and other officers present, and that the officer 'had no choice but to fire his weapon'. [ 1 , 4 ]
Ben Crump, a civil rights attorney representing Kohen's family, has said results of a preliminary independent autopsy indicate Kohen was shot from the side of the car, not the front, contradicting officers' claims that the car was heading toward them. In a statement after the finding, Crump questioned the investigation's conclusions and urged the department to release body camera video. 'We will not stop fighting until this family gets the truth,' he said. The Guardian said it is not yet clear if or when footage will be released. [ 3 , 6 , 7 ]
NBC News said Kohen's family has for months taken part in protests demanding justice. The Boston Globe described the shooting as the latest in a string of incidents that has eroded trust between the Senatobia police department and the city's Black citizens. [ 3 , 7 ]
Why it matters
The finding concludes the state's investigation into the June shooting, which prompted months of protests and calls for justice. Outlets report that the family's lawyer is pressing for the footage to be made public, and it is not clear if or when it will be.
Key facts
- The Mississippi attorney general's office said it completed its review of a 14 June 2026 incident in Senatobia involving one officer and found the use of force was justified. [ 7 ]
- Kohen Wiley, aged 1, was killed when an officer fired at a car outside a Walmart in Senatobia, about 40 miles south of Memphis, Tennessee, while responding to a shoplifting call. [ 1 , 6 , 7 ]
- The Mississippi Bureau of Investigation conducted the investigation. [ 7 ]
- Neither Kohen's mother, Vellesiya Wiley, nor her friend has been charged with shoplifting or any other offence, according to online state and county court records cited by AP. [ 1 , 4 , 6 ]
- Ben Crump, the family's attorney, said in a statement: "If the footage supports the state's decision, release it." [ 7 ]
- The attorney for the officer, Martin Zummach, said the findings cleared his client of criminal wrongdoing. [ 1 , 4 ]
Confirmed by several sources
- The Mississippi attorney general's office found the officer's use of force in the Senatobia shooting justified. [ 1 , 4 , 6 , 7 ]
- The shooting happened on 14 June at a Walmart in Senatobia after a shoplifting call, and Kohen Wiley was killed. [ 6 , 7 ]
- Neither Vellesiya Wiley nor her friend has been charged. [ 1 , 4 , 6 ]
- Crump urged release of body camera footage of the shooting. [ 7 , 12 ]
Still unclear
- Whether the car was driving toward officers. The Mississippi Bureau of Investigation said the driver drove in the direction of the officers, almost striking one. Vellesiya Wiley disputed this in a video, and Crump cited a preliminary independent autopsy indicating Kohen was shot from the side of the car, not the front.
- Whether any shoplifting took place. Police believed diapers and baby clothes were stolen, while Kohen's mother denied that she or her friend stole anything. The Guardian said officials have not released any evidence of shoplifting.
- Whether body camera footage has been or will be released. The Guardian said it is not yet clear if or when footage will be released, and Crump urged its release. A New York Post headline refers to bodycam footage showing the moment of the shooting, but the document gives no further detail.
- The identity of the officer. The Guardian, citing other records, identified the officer as Sgt Hunter Foster; the other documents do not name him.
What local media are saying
Timeline, local time
- CNN published a report on the attorney general's finding on 19 October. [ 1 ]
- The Seattle Times published the AP report on the finding. [ 2 ]
- The Guardian US reported that the attorney general's office announced the shooting 'was justified' four months after the killing. [ 6 ]
- NBC News reported the attorney general's statement and Crump's response. [ 7 ]