Family disputes police killing of one-year-old boy in Mississippi

Summarised from 2 outlets · Updated 22 Oct, 20:02 · Archive

The family of a one-year-old boy fatally shot by police in Mississippi says the killing was not justified, after state investigators cleared the officer.

A one-year-old boy, Kohen Wiley, was fatally shot in June when police officer Sgt. Hunter Foster fired into a moving vehicle in a Walmart parking lot in Senatobia, Mississippi, about 40 miles south of Memphis, Tennessee. The shooting occurred as officers chased two women accused of shoplifting.

The Mississippi Attorney General's Office investigated and found the shooting was a justified use of force. Kohen would have turned two years old in early November. The family, represented by civil rights attorney Ben Crump, reviewed body-worn camera footage at a news conference on Thursday and rejected the state's conclusion. Crump argued that the officers' response—running at the vehicle with guns drawn to apprehend alleged shoplifters—was excessive and reckless.

Kohen's maternal grandmother, Veronica Roberson, said she learned of the state's decision from news reports rather than official notice. She also saw leaked video footage online before the full recording was released to media. She called both the lack of notification and the leak 'a slap in the face' to her family. Kohen's mother, Vellesiya Wiley, had previously denied that she and her friend stole diapers from the store, and neither woman has been charged according to state and county court records.

How it is being reported

• The family of a 1-year-old Mississippi boy says video shows his killing by police was not justifiedThe family of a 1-year-old boy fatally shot by a police officer in Mississippi says the shooting was not justified.Clickorlando · 22 Oct, 19:44
• The family of a 1-year-old Mississippi boy says video shows his killing by police was not justifiedThe family of a 1-year-old boy fatally shot by a police officer in Mississippi says the shooting was not justified.News4Jax · 22 Oct, 19:44

In this story: Kohen Wiley · Sgt. Hunter Foster · Ben Crump · Veronica Roberson · Vellesiya Wiley · Senatobia · Mississippi · Mississippi Attorney General's Office

This summary was written by AI from the headlines and standfirsts above, and states as fact only what at least two outlets report. How we use AI · Report a problem