The family of 1-year-old Kohen Wiley, fatally shot by a Senatobia police officer in June, viewed unredacted body and surveillance camera footage on Thursday in a private screening arranged by the Mississippi Bureau of Investigation, two days after leaked clips circulated publicly. The viewing came after Mississippi Attorney General Lynn Fitch announced on Monday that her office would not seek criminal charges against Officer Hunter Foster, who fired four shots at a car carrying the toddler and two women accused of shoplifting diapers and baby clothes from a Walmart.
Kohen Wiley was killed on June 14, 2026, when Officer Hunter Foster fired his weapon at a car that police were pursuing after a shoplifting call. The car, driven by Latoya Ferrell, backed out of a parking space and moved in the direction of two officers. The state Department of Public Safety said at the time that the car nearly struck an officer. In the footage leaked this week and shown to the family, it is difficult to discern whether the car made contact with Foster. The family's attorney, Ben Crump, said the shooter's body camera showed Foster was beside the car when he fired some of his shots, not in front of it.
Kohen's mother, Vellesiya Wiley, walked out of the private viewing after watching the first clip from Foster's body-worn camera. She said she already hesitated to attend after seeing leaked footage two days earlier and that the attorney general's decision to not charge Foster made further viewing unnecessary. Veronica Roberson, Kohen's grandmother, who stayed for the entire viewing, said state officials did not slow down the video or provide frame-by-frame analysis. When the family asked officials whether the car had injured any officers, she said, "they said the car had made contact with Foster." The leaked footage shows the car driving toward Foster but turning away as it gets close; Foster puts his hand on the hood and pivots but does not fall. It is unclear if the car touches him.
Foster's lawyer, Martin Zummach, said Monday that the attorney general's decision was "expected" and "overdue." Foster has not responded to multiple requests for comment over the past several months.
At a press conference after the viewing, Ben Crump criticized the attorney general's determination, arguing that firing from the side was not justified and questioning why officers drew their weapons over a misdemeanor shoplifting offense. Neither of the two women has been charged. Van Turner, a Mississippi lawyer on Crump's legal team, said he would ask federal authorities to review the footage.
The Mississippi Legislative Black Caucus also called on Attorney General Fitch to provide a detailed explanation of her decision and for an independent review of the Senatobia Police Department's practices. "Attorney General Fitch cannot reasonably expect public confidence in a decision the public has not been given the evidence to evaluate," said Representative Kabir Karriem, chairman of the caucus. "Announcing that a review is complete does not fulfill the responsibility to explain how a police encounter ended with a baby dead." State officials are expected to publicly release the video now that the family has viewed it.
Analysis
Why This Matters
- The case raises questions about the use of deadly force by police in response to misdemeanor offenses, especially when a child is harmed.
- The attorney general's decision not to charge the officer, combined with the family's inability to get a detailed explanation from state officials, erodes public trust in the investigation process.
- The call for a federal review and an independent audit of the Senatobia Police Department could set a precedent for accountability in similar cases.
Background
Kohen Wiley was shot and killed on June 14, 2026, after Senatobia police responded to a shoplifting call at a Walmart. Officers pursued two women, Latoya Ferrell and Vellesiya Wiley (Kohen's mother), who were accused of stealing diapers and baby clothes. The women fled in a car with Kohen inside. At least five officers chased them into the parking lot and drew their weapons when the car backed out and tried to flee. Officer Hunter Foster fired four shots, striking and killing Kohen. The incident sparked local protests and calls for transparency. On October 19, 2026, Mississippi Attorney General Lynn Fitch announced she would not seek charges against Foster, saying the shooting was justified. Leaked clips of the encounter were published by Darkhorse Press earlier this week, prompting the state to arrange a private screening for the family.
Key Perspectives
Family and Attorney Ben Crump: They argue that the shooting was unjustified, as the car was not directly endangering officers when Foster fired from the side. They question why deadly force was used over a shoplifting accusation and seek federal intervention and an independent review of the police department.
Attorney General Lynn Fitch and Officer Foster: Fitch determined that the use of force was justified, concluding her review without charging Foster. Foster's lawyer, Martin Zummach, described the decision as expected and overdue. State officials maintain that the car made contact with Foster, though the footage does not clearly show contact.
Mississippi Legislative Black Caucus: The caucus, led by Representative Kabir Karriem, demands a full explanation from the attorney general and an independent review of the Senatobia Police Department's practices, citing the need for public transparency.
What to Watch
- Whether federal authorities (DOJ or FBI) launch a civil rights investigation into the shooting, as requested by the family's legal team.
- The public release of the unredacted body camera and surveillance footage, which state officials have said will happen after the family viewing.
- Any legislative or policy changes in Mississippi regarding the use of deadly force in response to nonviolent misdemeanors.