The June shooting in Senatobia, Mississippi sparked protests, grief, and months of demands for answers after one-year-old Kohen Wiley was killed during a police encounter. Now, the state’s Attorney General has ruled that the officer’s use of force was justified—leaving the toddler’s family stunned and still searching for clarity.
AG Concludes Shooting Was Justified
Mississippi Attorney General Lynn Fitch announced that her office completed its review of the June 14, 2026 incident involving a Senatobia Police Department officer.
According to Fitch, the investigation—conducted by the Mississippi Bureau of Investigation—found the shooting “justified” under state law.
Officers had responded to a shoplifting call at Walmart, where they alleged Kohen’s mother, Vellesiya Wiley, and a family friend left the store with diapers and baby clothes. Police say Wiley was carrying her son as she got into a vehicle and began driving away. Moments later, the officer fired into the car, killing Kohen.
Neither Wiley nor her friend was ever charged with shoplifting.
Family Says They Were Never Interviewed
Wiley revealed earlier this month that investigators never interviewed her during the MBI’s review. Kohen’s grandmother learned of the AG’s decision through Facebook. The family says no state or local officials contacted them before the announcement.
The Mississippi Department of Public Safety has not released surveillance footage or body-camera video. The only public recording is a bystander’s clip taken after the shooting—showing neither the vehicle’s movement nor officers firing.
Ben Crump Calls for Video Release
Civil rights attorney Ben Crump, representing the Wiley family, condemned the AG’s conclusion and demanded the release of all footage.
“A 1-year-old baby was shot and killed by a police officer, and now the state of Mississippi says that use of force was justified,” Crump said. “How can anyone accept that conclusion when Kohen’s family and the public still have not been allowed to see the body-camera footage?”
Crump also pointed to recent controversies within the Senatobia Police Department. The city’s former police chief, Harold Vanderford, was unanimously fired after multiple outlets confirmed he used racial slurs in private text messages. Another officer involved in Kohen’s case reportedly faced a complaint for a racially offensive remark just two days before the shooting.
“If the footage supports the state’s decision, release it,” Crump said. “We will not stop fighting until this family gets the truth.”
Community Still Seeking Answers
Months after Kohen’s death, Senatobia residents continue calling for transparency, accountability, and the release of all video evidence. For Wiley and her family, the AG’s ruling has only deepened their frustration—leaving them without closure and without the answers they’ve been pleading for since June.
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