The Mississippi Attorney General’s Office has concluded that a police officer was justified in the fatal shooting of 1-year-old Kohen Wiley during a June 14, 2026, incident in a Walmart parking lot in Senatobia, Mississippi. The announcement, released on Monday, October 19, brings a close to the state-level criminal review regarding the use of deadly force during a response to an alleged shoplifting offense.
Attorney General Lynn Fitch’s office took over the case in September following an underlying investigation conducted by the Mississippi Bureau of Investigation (MBI). Under Section 45-1-6 of the Mississippi Code, the review evaluated the actions of a single Senatobia Police Department officer involved in the encounter. The findings determine that the officer will not face criminal charges.
Incident Background and Competing Accounts
According to MBI investigators, officers responded to a retail establishment call regarding an alleged theft of a pack of diapers and baby clothing involving the child’s mother, Vellesiya Wiley, and his great-aunt, Latoya Ferrell, who was driving. As officers arrived, the women exited the store with the child, entered a vehicle, and attempted to leave the parking lot.
Investigators maintained that the vehicle moved toward officers, nearly striking one, which prompted an officer to discharge a firearm. Vellesiya Wiley and legal representatives have disputed this version of events, asserting that the vehicle did not pose a threat. During the encounter, Vellesiya held her son up inside the vehicle to signal the presence of a child before shots were fired. The gunfire resulted in the death of 1-year-old Kohen Wiley and wounded Ferrell. Official records confirm that neither woman has been charged with a crime.
Public Scrutiny and Demands for Transparency
The decision by the Attorney General’s Office has intensified calls for transparency from community activists, civil rights attorneys, and the toddler’s family. Attorneys Ben Crump and Van Turner have repeatedly pressed for the release of crucial evidence, including police body-camera footage, dash-cam recordings, and overhead Walmart surveillance video.
An independent autopsy presented by the family’s legal team in July classified the toddler’s death as a homicide and detailed the trajectory of the bullet that struck him. While an autopsy classification establishes the manner of death, a criminal assessment evaluates legal accountability under state law. Public officials have stated that surveillance footage will eventually be made available to media organizations via public records requests, though critical video evidence has not yet been publicly released.
Wider Institutional Concerns
The case has drawn attention to broader issues within the Senatobia Police Department and local governance. Public records and local reporting revealed that Officer Hunter Foster, identified in court documents as the subject of the investigation, faced prior allegations involving a 2019 vehicle-related encounter that resulted in a federal lawsuit and a 2022 settlement.
Additionally, community demonstrations and actions by the Mississippi Legislative Black Caucus highlighted widespread frustration over communication from investigating authorities. Activists and residents continue to demand a comprehensive public accounting of the evidence that informed the state’s legal determination, leaving lingering questions about police protocols during property-related emergency responses.
Frequently Asked Questions
Who was Kohen Wiley?
Kohen Wiley was a 1-year-old child who was fatally shot on June 14, 2026, during a police response outside a Walmart in Senatobia, Mississippi.
What did the Mississippi Attorney General’s Office decide?
The Attorney General’s Office announced on October 19, 2026, that the use of force by the Senatobia police officer was legally justified, meaning the officer will not face criminal charges.
Why were police initially called to the scene?
Officers responded to a call reporting an alleged shoplifting incident involving diapers and baby clothing at a Senatobia Walmart.
Have the involved family members been charged with a crime?
No, neither Vellesiya Wiley nor Latoya Ferrell have been charged with any crime related to the incident.
What evidence are family members and advocates still demanding?
Attorneys and activists are demanding the public release of all police body-worn camera footage, dash-cam recordings, and Walmart security surveillance video from the incident.
