Why It Matters
Mississippi authorities have released body camera footage from a police shooting that killed one-year-old Kohen Wiley. The attorney general found that Officer Hunter Foster was justified in using force, while Wiley’s family disputes that finding.
What Happened
Officers responded to a shoplifting report at a Walmart car park in Senatobia on 14 June. Kohen Wiley was sitting on his mother Vellesiya Wiley’s lap in a moving vehicle with another woman.
Five law enforcement officers ran toward the vehicle with their guns drawn. The vehicle reversed into a parked car before moving forward, and Foster fired at it.
The shooting shattered the passenger-side window. Four gunshots were heard, and the vehicle then drove slowly away through the car park.
Martin Zummach said, “The driver of the vehicle was attempting to kill those 5 officers.” Wiley’s family has rejected the conclusion that the shooting was justified.
Vellesiya Wiley denied that she and her friend stole nappies from Walmart. No charges had been filed against either woman. Foster later resigned.
By the Numbers
1 — Kohen Wiley’s age
14 June — date of the shooting
5 — law enforcement officers who ran toward the vehicle
4 — gunshots heard
3 — people in the vehicle
Zoom Out
Protests and vigils followed the child’s death in Mississippi. Relatives also demanded accountability at a news conference.
LaSandra Williams said, “After what I’ve seen today, I’m having a difficult time understanding the word, ‘justified,'”
What’s Next
The released footage and the attorney general’s finding remain central to the dispute between the official conclusion and Wiley’s family. The source material does not identify further legal action.