Mississippi’s attorney general has ruled that a police officer acted lawfully when opening fire on a vehicle during a suspected shoplifting investigation, resulting in the death of a one-year-old boy. The decision has sparked criticism from the child’s family, whose lawyer is demanding that authorities release video recordings of the incident.
Kohen Wiley died in June while sitting on his mother’s lap inside a car in Senatobia, Mississippi. Latoya Ferrell, the vehicle’s driver, sustained serious injuries during the shooting and remains in critical condition.
The incident began on 14 June when police received a report of allegedly stolen baby supplies at a Walmart store. The items reportedly included nappies and baby clothing. According to the Mississippi Bureau of Investigation, officers arrived and saw two women and a young child heading towards a vehicle.
Police attempted to stop the car, but investigators said the driver moved towards an officer and nearly struck them. One officer then fired a weapon, killing Kohen and critically injuring Ferrell.
Kohen’s mother, Vellesiya Wiley, has rejected claims that she or Ferrell stole anything from the store. She also said she raised her son from her lap to make officers aware of his presence before the shooting occurred.
In a statement issued on Monday, Mississippi Attorney General Lynn Fitch announced that her office had concluded the officer’s use of force was justified.
However, the decision has been strongly challenged by the family’s legal representative, Benjamin Crump. He questioned how officials could reach a final conclusion without making the available footage public.
Crump called on authorities to release recordings from officers’ body cameras and security cameras in the Walmart parking lot. He argued that the family and the public deserved access to evidence that could help explain what happened.
The attorney representing the officer who fired the shots, Martin Zummach, defended his client’s actions. Speaking to the Associated Press, he claimed Ferrell had attempted to kill the officer and argued that firing the weapon had been necessary.
Kohen’s death occurred on Juneteenth, a US holiday commemorating the end of slavery. The shooting prompted protests in Senatobia, with demonstrators raising concerns about racial discrimination and the handling of the investigation.
Kohen and the two women involved are Black, while the officer who fired the shots is reportedly white. Protesters have questioned whether race influenced the case.
The controversy follows another incident involving the city’s police department. Last month, Senatobia dismissed its white police chief after newspaper reports brought attention to text messages in which he repeatedly used racial slurs. The family continues to seek transparency as questions remain about the shooting and the evidence behind the state’s decision.
