About 100 protesters gathered on Friday morning outside the Walmart in rural Senatobia, Mississippi, to demand justice for Kohen Kartier Wiley, a one-year-old boy killed by police on June 14. The Walmart remained closed with barricaded doors after a previous protest earlier in the week where officers deployed teargas to disperse the crowd.
Shooting Details Disputed
On June 14, a Senatobia police officer fired into the passenger side of a vehicle where Kohen sat on his mother's lap. The bullet killed the infant and injured the female driver. The Mississippi Department of Public Safety (DPS) stated officers responded to a call about diaper theft, but no shoplifting charges have been filed. Kohen's mother, Vellesiya Wiley, said the driver paid for the diapers at self-checkout. A DPS statement claimed officers encountered two subjects and a juvenile fleeing into a vehicle, and the driver drove toward officers, almost striking one. Wiley and witnesses dispute this account, objecting to Kohen being called a 'juvenile.'
Demands for Transparency
The family and protesters are calling for full transparency, including the release of body-camera and security-camera footage. The DPS has refused, citing an ongoing investigation by the Mississippi Bureau of Investigation. A public records request identified Sgt. Hunter Foster of the Senatobia police department as one of the officers present. Friday's protest was part of a series of actions supporting Kohen's family.
Protest March and Police Response
Protesters marched from the Walmart, chanting 'Justice for him! Kohen Wiley,' 'If we don't get it, shut it down,' and 'Say his name: Kohen Wiley!' They were initially intercepted by a sheriff on US Highway 51, who told leaders they could not stop traffic. Marchers continued, slowing but not stopping traffic. Law enforcement vehicles followed, forcing protesters to repeatedly change their route to reach the Senatobia police station. When approaching from one direction, they faced a barricade; from another, construction workers placed barriers. Protesters eventually marched through town, weaving near the interstate and back to the Walmart, enduring temperatures near 90°F. Local business employees looked on, some cheering.
Community Reactions
Tyesha Cox, a family friend, said, 'It's horrible for them to do the community like this … we got businesses locking their doors like we're trying to harm them. They just need to listen to the community and let us get justice. If they feel the police did right, then why they haven't released any footage?' After the march, family and community members attended a viewing of Kohen's body. A town hall later Friday featured Fred Hampton Jr. of the Black Panther Party Cubs, Marquell Bridges, Baba Akili of Black Lives Matter Grassroots Rapid Response, and others. Kohen's funeral is scheduled for Saturday afternoon.
