Bodycam Footage Shows Police Shooting of Mississippi Toddler Kohen Wiley
Body camera footage has been released showing the shooting of one-year-old Kohen Wiley by a police officer responding to a shoplifting report.
SENATOBIA, Oct 24: Body camera footage released by Mississippi authorities shows the police shooting that resulted in the death of one-year-old Kohen Wiley during a response to a shoplifting incident. The incident occurred on June 14 outside a Walmart in Senatobia.
Kohen was on his mother Vellesiya Wiley’s lap in a moving vehicle when police surrounded the car. Officer Hunter Foster, who subsequently resigned from the Senatobia Police Department, fired into the vehicle while shouting for it to stop. The gunfire shattered the passenger window and struck Kohen, who was later declared dead.
Mississippi Attorney General Lynn Fitch stated that the shooting was justified, asserting that Foster acted because the driver posed a threat. Foster’s attorney, Martin Zummach, claimed the vehicle was moving toward the officers, leaving Foster with no choice but to fire. He said, “The driver of the vehicle was attempting to kill those 5 officers.” However, Kohen’s family disputes this justification, arguing that their son’s life was lost unnecessarily.
Ben Crump, the family’s attorney, condemned the police response as excessive and called for a federal investigation. Crump stated, “The bullet that killed Kohen Wiley was not justified,” emphasizing that the death of a child should never be the outcome of an alleged shoplifting incident.
The video shows officers drawing their weapons and running toward the car after being informed that shoplifters were escaping. The vehicle reportedly reversed, struck a parked car, and then advanced toward the officers. Video footage indicates that Foster fired as the vehicle passed by, with Crump arguing that the shooting was not justified and occurred from the side of the car, where Foster was not in immediate danger.
Kohen’s family expressed their grief and frustration over the situation. Kohen’s grandmother, Veronica Roberson, noted that the term ‘justified’ has been troubling for her since the incident. She stated, “There’s no justification for that,” after viewing the footage released to the public.
Following the shooting, Kohen’s mother denied allegations of shoplifting, stating they were simply leaving the store without any stolen merchandise. No charges have been filed against her or the vehicle’s driver.
The fallout from the incident has prompted protests and vigils in Mississippi, as community members call for accountability. Crump voiced concerns about the message conveyed by the shooting’s justification, arguing that it devalues the life of black children.
