Police shooting of one-year-old in Mississippi ruled justified

Summarised from 2 outlets · Updated 22 Oct, 19:44 · Archive

A one-year-old boy was shot dead by police in a Mississippi Walmart car park after officers responded to an alleged shoplifting incident.

Kohen Wiley, a one-year-old, was fatally shot by police on 14 June outside a Walmart in Senatobia, Mississippi. Officers responded after his mother Vellesiya Wiley and a friend were allegedly caught shoplifting. Mississippi Attorney General Lynn Fitch announced that a review found the use of force was justified.

Bodycam footage released this week showed officers surrounding the vehicle and ordering the driver to stop. As officers approached, the vehicle accelerated towards them and they opened fire, killing the child. According to the child's family representatives, officers approached the car with guns drawn from the outset.

The child's family has challenged the ruling. Attorney Ben Crump said the police response was excessive and questioned why officers drew weapons over an alleged misdemeanour. He noted that neither woman was ever arrested for shoplifting. The child's maternal grandmother, Veronica Roberson, said she was not notified before the decision was announced and learned of it through news sources.

How it is being reported

• Video footage of Kohen Wiley shooting released after toddler’s death deemed ‘justified’‘The word ‘justified’ have haunted me since Monday,’’ the child’s maternal grandmother says Since the Mississippi attorney general, Lynn Fitch, announced on Monday that the police shooting of Kohen Wiley, a one-year-old baby, “was justified”, footage of the shooting has been made public. It was first reported by Darkhorse Press, a Mississippi outlet. On Thursday, attorneys Ben Crump and Van Turner, who are representing the Wiley family, held a press conference at the Senatobia Church of Christ, in Senatobia, Mississippi. The press conference came shortly after members of the family were able…Guardian World · 22 Oct, 19:21
• Shocking final moments of baby captured on police bodycam after his mother and aunt 'shoplifted' at Walmart then drove car at cops who opened fireThe tragic episode unfolded June 14 outside a Walmart in Senatobia, Mississippi, where Kohen Wiley was shot dead after his mother Vellesiya Wiley and a friend were allegedly caught shoplifting.Daily Mail · 21 Oct, 20:30

In this story: Kohen Wiley · Vellesiya Wiley · Lynn Fitch · Ben Crump · Senatobia · Mississippi · Walmart

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