Mississippi Black Caucus demands transparency in fatal police shooting of 1-year-old

The Mississippi Legislative Black Caucus is demanding transparency and direct communication from state officials following the fatal police shooting of 1-year-old Kohen Wiley. The incident occurred on June 14 in a Walmart parking lot in Senatobia, Mississippi, while the child was reportedly sitting in his mother’s lap in a vehicle.

In an open letter addressed to Attorney General Lynn Fitch and Public Safety Commissioner Sean Tindell, Black Caucus Chairman Kabir Karriem stated that the family should not have to fight the state for information regarding the investigation. The Mississippi Bureau of Investigation (MBI) is currently handling the case, but the family reports a lack of meaningful updates or contact from investigators since the shooting.

The caucus is calling for the state to assign a designated liaison to provide the family with direct, timely, and ongoing updates. Concerns have also been raised regarding the absence of publicly released body camera or dashboard footage from the encounter.