“HE WAS JUST ONE YEAR OLD…” FAMILY IDENTIFIES 1-YEAR-OLD KOHEN WILEY AFTER OFFICER-INVOLVED SHO0TING AT MISSISSIPPI WALMART
Family Identifies 1-Year-Old K!lled in Mississippi Officer-Involved Sh00ting as Protests Erupt Outside Walmart
The family of a 1-year-old boy killed during an officer-involved shooting outside a Walmart in Mississippi has identified the child as Kohen Wiley, as grief and anger over the tragedy sparked protests and calls for accountability.
The shooting occurred Sunday afternoon in Senatobia, Mississippi, and is now under investigation by the Mississippi Bureau of Investigation (MBI).
According to authorities, police officers and sheriff’s deputies responded to a reported shoplifting incident at the Walmart before encountering two adults and the child leaving the store in a vehicle.
Police Say Vehicle Nearly Struck an Officer
Investigators say the driver headed toward responding officers, nearly hitting one of them.
An officer then fired at the vehicle.
The occupants later arrived at a nearby hospital, where Kohen was pronounced dead. A woman inside the vehicle was critically injured, while Kohen’s mother was physically unharmed, according to advocates assisting the family.
Authorities said no officers were injured during the incident.
The officer who fired the shots has not been publicly identified but has been placed on administrative leave, which is standard procedure following deadly police shootings.
Family Questions Use of Force
Kohen’s grandmothers expressed disbelief and heartbreak over the circumstances surrounding the shooting.
“Whatever the incident may have come to, it still didn’t need for you to shoot two adults and a baby that was not even a threat to you,” said Licole Wiley.
Lasandra Williams vowed to continue fighting for justice for her grandson.
“Everybody that was involved needs to be held accountable,” she said. “I’m not giving up until I get justice.”
Civil rights attorney Ben Crump has since agreed to represent the family.
In a statement, Crump said Kohen’s mother had tried to tell officers there was a baby inside the vehicle.
“They fired anyway, leading to the death of an innocent 1-year-old,” he said.
Protests Break Out at Walmart
As word of the shooting spread, protesters gathered outside the Walmart Tuesday night.
Video from the scene showed law enforcement officers in riot gear using tear gas to disperse crowds.
Some demonstrators accused police of using excessive force and questioned whether race played a role in the shooting.
“You gonna shoot up a car with a baby in it? Come on, man, that’s ridiculous,” one protester said.
State Investigation Underway
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Mississippi Department of Public Safety Commissioner Sean Tindell described the incident as “a very tragic situation.”
He said five MBI agents are conducting an independent investigation and reviewing witness statements, body-camera footage, dashcam video, and Walmart surveillance recordings.
City officials also urged residents not to spread unverified information while the investigation remains active.
Walmart released a statement saying the company was saddened by the incident and would continue cooperating with law enforcement.
No timeline has been announced for the completion of the investigation, but officials said all evidence, including video footage, will eventually be made public once the inquiry concludes.
References
WMC Action News 5 / Gray Media
Mississippi Bureau of Investigation
Statements from the City of Senatobia
Statement from Walmart
Public statements by attorney Ben Crump and members of Kohen Wiley’s family