A Mississippi police officer has been placed on administrative leave after a fatal shooting outside a Walmart left a 1-year-old boy dead and sparked calls for transparency from community members and civil rights advocates.
The shooting occurred June 14 in the parking lot of a Walmart in Senatobia, a city about 40 miles south of Memphis. Authorities said officers responded to a report of an alleged shoplifting incident involving diapers before encountering a vehicle occupied by two adults and a child. Investigators said an officer fired at the vehicle during the encounter, striking the child and injuring an adult passenger. The boy later died after being taken to a hospital.
Family members identified the child as Kohen Wiley.
According to the Mississippi Bureau of Investigation, officers attempted to stop the vehicle after the reported theft. Authorities said the driver allegedly drove toward officers, prompting one officer to open fire. Family members and witnesses have challenged that account, raising questions about whether the use of deadly force was justified.
The officer involved has not been publicly identified. City officials confirmed that the officer was placed on administrative leave, a standard procedure following a deadly police shooting. The Mississippi Bureau of Investigation is leading an independent review.
Family Demands Answers
The shooting has drawn national attention and renewed scrutiny of police use-of-force policies during encounters involving alleged low-level offenses.
Civil rights attorney Ben Crump, who is representing the Wiley family, sharply criticized the actions of law enforcement.
“Kohen Wiley was a baby. His mother, who has not been charged with any crime, says she was trying to communicate to officers that there was a baby in the car,” Crump said in a statement. “They fired anyway, leading to the death of an innocent one-year-old. We intend to seek justice for baby Kohen and the life that was stolen from him.”
The family has called for the release of police body-camera footage and Walmart surveillance video. They argue that the recordings could provide a clearer picture of what occurred during the confrontation. Community members have echoed those demands during public demonstrations.
Kohen’s mother has disputed claims that the vehicle posed an immediate threat. She has also questioned why officers responded with gunfire during an incident that reportedly began as a shoplifting investigation.
Protests Intensify
The shooting has prompted several protests in Senatobia. Demonstrators gathered outside city hall and near the Walmart store where the incident occurred. Many carried signs demanding accountability and justice for the child.
Tensions escalated during one protest when officers used a chemical irritant to disperse crowds after confrontations developed near the store. The demonstrations reflect longstanding concerns among some residents regarding policing practices in the community.
Walmart said it is cooperating with investigators as the inquiry continues. The company has not commented further on the circumstances surrounding the shooting.
State investigators have not announced whether criminal charges will be considered. Officials have urged the public to allow the investigation to proceed before drawing conclusions.
As the inquiry moves forward, community leaders and the Wiley family continue to seek answers about the events that led to the death of a child during what began as a response to an alleged shoplifting call. The case is expected to remain under close public scrutiny in the weeks ahead.