Fire damages Mississippi police department amid community outrage

Summarised from 2 outlets · Updated 31 Oct, 21:32 · Archive

A fire damaged the headquarters of the Senatobia Police Department on Saturday morning; the cause is unclear and federal officials are investigating.

Firefighters responded to smoke at the Senatobia Police Department headquarters at 4:58 a.m. on Saturday and quickly extinguished the fire. It is unclear what caused the fire or whether it was intentionally set. The U.S. Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives is investigating alongside local agencies.

The department, which serves a community of 8,000, has drawn significant outrage in recent months. In June, an officer fired into a vehicle during a shoplifting investigation at a Walmart, killing one-year-old Kohen Wiley, who is Black. The child's mother was unharmed and her friend was seriously injured. Both women denied having stolen anything and no charges were filed against them.

In September, the police chief was fired after reports by The New York Times, Mississippi Today and Verite News alleged he used racist slurs in private text messages. Earlier this month, the officer involved in the shooting resigned. The Mississippi Attorney General's office cleared him of criminal wrongdoing, concluding his use of force was justified.

How it is being reported

• Federal officials investigate fire at beleaguered police department in MississippiA fire Saturday morning damaged the building of a beleaguered police department in Mississippi that has drawn outrage from the community in recent months after an officer shot and killed a 1-year-old.Clickorlando · 31 Oct, 20:15
• Federal officials investigate fire at beleaguered police department in MississippiA fire Saturday morning damaged the building of a beleaguered police department in Mississippi that has drawn outrage from the community in recent months after an officer shot and killed a 1-year-old.News4Jax · 31 Oct, 20:15

In this story: Senatobia Police Department · U.S. Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives · Kohen Wiley · Mississippi Attorney General · Senatobia · Memphis

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