Mississippi Police Shooting Kills 1-Year-Old Kohen Wiley at Walmart

On June 14, 2024, police officers responding to a shop‑lifting call at a Walmart in Senatobia, Mississippi, opened fire on a vehicle in the parking lot. The vehicle carried 1‑year‑old Kohen Kartier Wiley, his mother and a family friend. An officer said the driver steered toward officers, prompting the discharge of a weapon; the child was struck and later died at a hospital, while the adult passenger suffered critical injuries.

The Mississippi Bureau of Investigation has taken over the case and placed the officer on administrative leave. No arrests have been made. Family members deny any shop‑lifting occurred and say the mother was trying to warn officers that a baby was in the car. Civil‑rights attorney Ben Crump, representing the family, said, "Kohen Wiley was a baby" and urged accountability.

The incident sparked protests in Senatobia, with demonstrators demanding transparency and the release of body‑camera footage. Police used tear gas to disperse crowds on June 16. The investigation will be turned over to the state Attorney General’s Office.