Body camera footage released in police shooting that killed 1-year-old Kohen Wiley

Mississippi authorities released body camera and surveillance footage of the June police shooting that killed 1-year-old Kohen Wiley outside a Senatobia Walmart, days after the state attorney general ruled the officer's use of force justified.

Ally Daily Editorial DeskOctober 23, 2026, 06:39 PMUpdated: October 23, 2026, 06:44 PM

Body camera footage released in police shooting that killed 1-year-old Kohen Wiley

The Mississippi Bureau of Investigation has released body camera and surveillance footage of the police shooting that killed 1-year-old Kohen Wiley outside a Walmart in Senatobia, Mississippi. Kohen was sitting on his mother's lap in a car when he was shot on June 14.

Officers had been responding to a shoplifting call after two women were seen running from the store with a child. The footage, recorded from several officers' body cameras and Walmart's security cameras, shows officers running into the parking lot and approaching the car. The driver reverses, strikes a parked vehicle and then pulls forward as officers shout for the car to stop. One officer then fires multiple shots.

Surveillance footage of the Walmart parking lot in Senatobia

Attorney general rules force justified

The Mississippi Attorney General's Office found the Senatobia Police Department's use of force "justified," and no charges will be filed. The officer who fired, identified in news reports as Sgt. Hunter Foster, was placed on administrative leave pending the investigation. His attorney said he had no choice but to fire because he feared the car was going to hit him. Officers have said they did not realize a baby was in the car.

Gov. Tate Reeves said he had not watched the video but trusts the state investigators and the attorney general's office, adding that "it was very clear" that "the driver of the vehicle attempted to run over the policeman."

Family disputes the finding

Kohen's family says the video shows the officer firing from the side of the car. "I watched the video this morning that disgusted me," said Veronica Roberson, the boy's maternal grandmother. "There's no justification for that."

Family attorney Ben Crump said the family believes the force was "excessive" and "not justified," argued that the officer could have moved out of the way, and called for a federal investigation. Kohen's mother, Vellesiya Wiley, who was in the passenger seat, has said she was not shoplifting and denied that they were trying to evade police. Neither she nor her friend has been charged with a crime.

Body camera footage released in police shooting that killed 1-year-old Kohen Wiley