A family in Mississippi is demanding the release of video footage after their 1-year-old child, Kohen Wiley, was killed by police gunfire. The incident occurred in a moving vehicle, raising questions about whether officers were truly in danger when they opened fire.
The shooting took place in the small city of Senatobia and has sparked public anger. Residents are concerned about recurring issues between police and Black community members. On June 14, young Kohen was with his mother and another woman in a Walmart parking lot. Police were responding to a shoplifting complaint, while the family claims they were driving away. Officers claim the car was heading toward them.
Vellesiya Wiley, Kohen’s mother, expressed her grief at a press conference. “I watched my baby take his first breath, and I watched my baby take his last breath,” she said. The woman who was with them, whose name remains undisclosed, sustained critical injuries. The Mississippi Bureau of Investigation is conducting an inquiry into the event.
Civil rights attorney Ben Crump stood with Kohen’s family and advocated for transparency. He urged authorities to release any relevant body, dash, or Walmart security camera footage. “If that is the truth, then show us that,” Crump insisted. He emphasized that delaying the release of the video fosters distrust.
The Mississippi Bureau of Investigation has chosen not to disclose what videos exist or if they will become public. Spokesperson Bailey Martin stated, “This case has been made a top priority.” Despite the ongoing investigation, the agency noted that no officers were injured in the episode.
Senatobia Police Chief Harold Vanderford did not respond to requests for comments. Initial reports claim police arrived to find two women and a child getting into a vehicle, which then drove toward them. As the vehicle fled, a police officer discharged their weapon.
The shoplifting issue, according to Kohen’s mother, related to a box of diapers her friend carried, which they believe was paid for. Investigators have not commented on these specifics. Crump highlighted the tragedy of losing a child over diapers, questioning the decisions made in the encounter.
An independent autopsy will be conducted, according to Crump, to shed light on the child’s shooting. Understanding bullet trajectories might reveal if the officer was positioned in front of or to the side of the vehicle, influencing the perceived threat.
Policing expert Ian Adams from the University of South Carolina commented on the dangers of firing into a moving vehicle, pointing out the risks posed to passengers and others in the vicinity. Adams stressed that such actions are generally ill-advised and should be avoided.
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