A one-year-old boy was shot and killed by a Mississippi police officer who opened fire on the vehicle he was in, following an alleged shoplifting incident at a Walmart. Kohen Kartier Wiley was in the car with his mother and aunt when the officer discharged their weapon.
Incident Details
The Senatobia Police Department stated that officers responded to a report of shoplifting at the local Walmart. Upon arrival, they encountered two women and a child fleeing the store and getting into a vehicle. According to the department, the driver drove toward the officers, nearly striking one, prompting an officer to fire their weapon. The vehicle then fled to a local hospital, where the child was pronounced dead and another occupant suffered critical injuries. No officers were seriously hurt.
Witness Accounts
Witnesses described seeing police waiting in the parking lot as the women exited the store, one carrying a box of diapers and the other holding baby Kohen. A witness reported seeing officers running on foot through the parking lot as the car drove away, followed by gunshots. The witness expressed shock that officers would shoot at a fleeing vehicle in a public place like Walmart.
Carolyn Stokes, the baby's great-grandmother, criticized the police department, saying they "get away with too much stuff" and that such incidents are too common.
Police Statement
The Senatobia Police Department released a statement committing to "full transparency" and promising to share verified information as the investigation progresses.
This incident follows previous reports of aggressive policing in the area, including a case last year where a woman was tasered for illegally parking in a handicapped spot.
