Lead

A Mississippi police officer has been placed on administrative leave after a shooting that killed a one-year-old child outside a Walmart in Senatobia, according to reports. The child, identified as Kohen Wiley, was shot on 14 June as officers responded to an alleged shoplifting complaint. The death has sparked protests in the small town and calls for the release of video footage.

Coverage Comparison

Reports from The Guardian detail the sequence of events, the ensuing protests, and the family's demands for accountability. While all accounts agree that an officer fired at a vehicle killing the child, there are conflicting versions of what led to the shooting. Police maintain that the vehicle drove toward officers, while the family and some witnesses dispute this account.

Key Claims

  • A Mississippi police officer has been placed on administrative leave following the shooting.
  • One-year-old Kohen Wiley was killed in the shooting.
  • The shooting occurred while officers were responding to an alleged shoplifting complaint at a Senatobia Walmart.
  • Protests erupted in Senatobia after the killing, including a demonstration outside the Walmart and at city hall.
  • Police deployed teargas to disperse demonstrators.
  • The driver of the vehicle, a friend of Kohen's mother, was seriously injured.
  • Kohen's mother, Vellesiya Wiley, and the driver had exited the Walmart and entered the vehicle when police attempted to stop them.
  • According to the Mississippi Bureau of Investigation, officers attempted to stop the vehicle, but the driver drove toward them, almost striking one, before an officer fired.
  • Wiley and some witnesses have disputed the police account, and the family has denied the shoplifting claim, stating that the driver paid for the diapers at a self-checkout.
  • The family has retained civil rights attorney Ben Crump, who has called for transparency, including the release of body-camera and surveillance footage.
  • The Mississippi Department of Public Safety has said such footage will not be released while the Mississippi Bureau of Investigation investigates.
  • The city of Senatobia has a population of approximately 8,300, with about 40% of residents being Black.

Perspectives

The family and protesters: Kohen's mother, Vellesiya Wiley, has demanded transparency and the release of video footage. She has stated that her friend was not driving toward officers and that the driver had paid for the items. The family and supporters have called for justice for Kohen.

Police and authorities: The Mississippi Bureau of Investigation and the Department of Public Safety have released statements indicating that officers attempted to stop the vehicle and that the driver drove toward them, almost striking an officer. They have declined to release body-camera and surveillance footage while the investigation continues.

Civil rights activists: Figures such as Bernice King have commented on the incident, linking it to broader concerns about police treatment of Black individuals and calling for accountability.