Mississippi police shooting kills 1‑year‑old in Walmart parking lot

On June 14, Senatoba, Mississippi police responded to a shop‑lifting call at a Walmart parking lot. Officers attempted to stop a vehicle carrying two women and 1‑year‑old Kohen Wiley. Police say the driver turned toward them, almost striking an officer, and an officer fired into the moving car, killing the child.

The child's mother, Vellesiya Wiley, told reporters, “I watched my baby take his first breath, and I watched my baby take his last breath.” The family and civil‑rights attorney Ben Crump are demanding the release of body‑camera, dash‑camera and Walmart security footage to determine whether officers were in danger. Crump said, “If that is the truth, then show us that,” adding that delays erode public trust. The Mississippi Bureau of Investigation is handling the inquiry as a top priority, while Senatoba Police Chief Harold Vanderford has not responded to comment. The incident has heightened tensions in a community already reporting strained police‑Black resident relations.