Officer Who Fatally Shot 1-Year-Old During Alleged Diaper Theft Was ‘Justified,’ Mississippi AG Says

In a tragic incident that has stirred widespread outrage, a one-year-old boy named Kohen Wiley lost his life after a police officer in Senatobia, Mississippi, opened fire on the vehicle he was in. Kohen’s mother, Vellesiya Wiley, was holding him in her arms when the shooting occurred on June 14, following an alleged shoplifting incident at a local Walmart.

The situation escalated when police were dispatched to the Walmart to respond to a report of two individuals fleeing the store with stolen items. According to the Mississippi Department of Public Safety, officers attempted to stop the vehicle, but the driver allegedly moved in the direction of the officers, prompting one to discharge his weapon at the fleeing car. The bullets struck both the baby and the driver, critical injuries resulting in Kohen’s death shortly after their arrival at a hospital.

On October 19, Mississippi Attorney General Lynn Fitch announced that the officer’s actions had been deemed justified in the shooting. Following a review conducted by the Mississippi Bureau of Investigation, Fitch released a statement confirming that the use of deadly force was warranted. However, she did not clarify the specifics of how this conclusion was reached, leaving many in the community seeking further explanation.

The announcement has provoked an outcry, with civil rights attorney Ben Crump, representing the Wiley family, demanding the immediate release of body-camera and surveillance footage related to the incident. In a statement, Crump expressed confusion and anger over the decision to label the officer’s use of force as justified while the family and public have yet to see the evidence that supports this conclusion.

Crump also referenced the recent dismissal of the Senatobia police chief, Harold Vanderford, due to the revelation of racist language in his private communications, suggesting broader issues within the police department. He further highlighted that the officer involved in the shooting had previously made a racially charged comment to a colleague, raising concerns about his conduct and the motivations behind the shooting.

Witnesses stated that Kohen’s mother was attempting to inform the police that her child was in the vehicle as the altercation unfolded. Following the shooting, Vellesiya claimed that she had tried to raise Kohen to show the officers that he was present, asserting that the driver was not aggressively approaching the officers as suggested by law enforcement accounts.

Reports from multiple news outlets indicated that the stolen items, which included baby clothes and diapers, were allegedly taken in the incident. Kohen’s mother explained that she and her friend had been shopping innocently and that her friend had been stopped as they attempted to leave the store. As they reversed the vehicle, the police confronted them with weapons drawn.

Vellesiya Wiley recounted the harrowing moments that led to the shooting, stating that as she attempted to protect her son, gunfire erupted. In her recounting, she firmly denied that her friend had directed the vehicle towards the officers, contradicting the police narrative. “They were all on the right side, and she was driving towards the left,” she clarified.

Following the incident, neither Vellesiya Wiley nor her friend faced any charges, and no body camera or surveillance footage has been released by law enforcement to date, raising important questions about transparency and accountability in this case. In the absence of video evidence, calls for justice and clarity continue to grow from community members and civil rights advocates alike.

As the investigation remains ongoing, the tragic loss of Kohen Wiley underscores the critical need for thorough and unbiased inquiries in police-related fatalities, particularly involving vulnerable individuals like children. The community is left in mourning, pushing for justice and accountability as they seek answers to a devastating event that has touched many lives.