A routine shoplifting call at a Walmart in Senatobia, Mississippi, tragically escalated on Sunday afternoon, resulting in the death of a 1-year-old boy and critical injuries to an adult passenger after a police officer discharged a firearm into a vehicle. The incident, which occurred approximately 40 miles south of Memphis, Tennessee, has prompted a state investigation and intensified scrutiny of police use-of-force decisions in rapidly unfolding situations.
According to statements from the Mississippi Bureau of Investigation (MBI), officers were dispatched to the Walmart store following reports of alleged shoplifting. Upon arrival, law enforcement personnel encountered two women and a child who were reportedly leaving the store and entering a vehicle in the parking lot. Investigators reported that the driver of the vehicle did not comply with officers' attempts to stop the car and instead drove in the direction of officers, leading at least one officer to open fire into the vehicle.
The child, identified as Kohen Wiley, was inside the vehicle with his mother, Vellesiya Wiley, and a family friend at the time of the shooting, as confirmed by law enforcement statements and civil rights attorney Ben Crump, who is representing the family. Following the gunfire, the vehicle fled the scene and proceeded to a nearby hospital, where Kohen Wiley was later pronounced dead. The adult passenger also sustained critical injuries during the incident, while no law enforcement officers were reported to have suffered serious injuries.
The circumstances immediately preceding the shooting remain a point of contention. State officials maintain that the vehicle moved towards officers during the attempted stop. However, the family has disputed this account, asserting that officers opened fire while the child was still visibly inside the car. Kohen’s mother, Vellesiya Wiley, stated that she was holding her son and attempted to alert officers to the presence of a baby in the vehicle by raising him to make him visible moments before shots were fired, according to WREG.
Further discrepancies in the description of the scene have emerged from bystander accounts and legal advocates, including questions regarding whether the vehicle was actively fleeing or was still in close proximity to officers when the shooting began. Attorneys representing the family have also challenged the suggestion that the occupants were involved in a theft, noting that the mother has not been charged with any crime related to shoplifting.
The MBI has taken over the investigation, a standard procedure for officer-involved shootings in Mississippi. Officials have indicated that body camera footage, surveillance video from the Walmart, and forensic evidence will be thoroughly reviewed before any determinations are made regarding potential criminal charges. Authorities have not yet released video evidence, citing the need to protect witness statements and preserve the integrity of the ongoing investigation.
The officer involved in the shooting has been placed on administrative leave, as confirmed by local officials. Both the Senatobia Police Department and the Tate County Sheriff’s Office have stated their full cooperation with the state investigation but have refrained from releasing additional details while the case remains active. Officials confirmed that multiple agencies were involved in the initial response to the shoplifting call, according to the Clarion Ledger.
In the aftermath of the shooting, people gathered outside the Walmart, demanding transparency and the release of body camera footage. Some demonstrators reportedly dispersed after law enforcement utilized tear gas, according to local media reports. Community leaders and clergy members have called for restraint and patience while the investigation proceeds. Walmart has issued a statement expressing its condolences over the child’s death and affirming its cooperation with investigators.
Mississippi Department of Public Safety Commissioner Sean Tindell urged the public to avoid speculation, emphasizing that the investigation will require time to review all evidence and verify witness accounts before any decisions are made regarding possible charges. The case remains under active investigation and will be forwarded to the state attorney general’s office once the Mississippi Bureau of Investigation completes its review. That process, officials stated, will determine whether the case proceeds to a grand jury or other legal action.
