Nationwide — Kohen Wiley, a 1-year-old African American baby from Senatobia, Mississippi, died after police opened fire on a vehicle in a Walmart parking lot while responding to a call about shoplifting. A woman was also critically injured during the incident.
According to WREG, officers responded to a local Walmart just after 2 p.m. on Sunday after reports of a shoplifting incident involving an alleged stolen box of diapers. Investigators say the driver pulled away as officers approached and drove in the direction of police, nearly striking one of them. At that point, at least one officer fired into the vehicle in the Walmart parking lot.
The car left the scene shortly after the shooting and later arrived at a nearby hospital. Kohen Wiley was pronounced dead after a bullet struck the vehicle. A woman inside, identified as his mother’s companion, was critically injured and remains hospitalized.
Officials later confirmed that Kohen was in the car with his mother and another adult during the incident. Civil rights attorney Ben Crump, now representing the family, said the mother has not been charged with any crime and tried to alert officers that a baby was inside the vehicle before shots were fired.
The Mississippi Bureau of Investigation has taken over the case and is reviewing Walmart surveillance footage, body and dash camera recordings, and videos captured by witnesses. Five agents are assigned to collect statements and piece together what happened.
Authorities said the officer who fired the shots has not been publicly identified and has been placed on administrative leave, following standard procedure in officer-involved shootings. State officials have urged the public to wait for the investigation to conclude before drawing conclusions.
Witness accounts describe a fast-moving and chaotic scene in the parking lot, with officers rushing toward the vehicle as it tried to leave. Some said officers ran on foot before gunfire erupted, while others said law enforcement was already positioned nearby.
Carlos Haynes, Kohen’s grandfather, said the family is overwhelmed and searching for answers. “I’m just at a loss for words, to be honest. Somebody needs to held accountable for it,” he said.
The shooting has triggered public reaction in Senatobia and the surrounding areas. Protesters gathered outside the Walmart and later at the Tate County Courthouse, calling for accountability. Some also traveled from other cities to join the demonstrations.
Protester Kaysoski Sanders said the incident reflects deeper concerns in the community. “You gonna shoot up a car with a baby in it? Come on, man, that’s ridiculous. That’s uncalled for. That’s uncalled for. Guaranteed it was because of the color of their skin,” he said. Another protester, Aretha Lester, said people need to speak up before similar cases happen elsewhere.
The City of Senatobia has asked residents to avoid spreading unverified claims while the investigation continues. Officials said more details will be released once all video and witness evidence have been reviewed.
Mississippi Department of Public Safety Commissioner Sean Tindell said the investigation remains active and will include all available footage and statements. He did not give a timeline but said the findings will eventually be made public.
The case remains under review as authorities work to determine exactly what led to the shooting in the Walmart parking lot.