A Mississippi family is grappling with immense grief following the tragic death of their 1-year-old child, Kohen Wiley, who was killed when police fired into a moving vehicle. On Wednesday, the family, represented by civil rights attorney Ben Crump, presented evidence they believe contradicts the officers’ claims of being in imminent danger at the time of the shooting.
A second autopsy requested by the family revealed that Kohen was shot from the side of the car rather than from the front, an important detail that raises questions about the officers’ narrative. Kohen’s mother, who is Black, was in the passenger seat and asserts that her friend, who was driving, was moving away from the officers when the shots were fired. In contrast, police initially stated that the vehicle was heading toward them.
The incident, which occurred on June 14, has sparked outrage within the Senatobia community, leading to protests against what many perceive as a troubling pattern of police conduct in recent years. According to Crump, the tragic event unfolded after law enforcement was called to a Walmart parking lot regarding a report of potential shoplifting involving diapers.
“We are here because of the lack of transparency, and we’re going to continue to demand transparency,” Crump stated during a gathering at the Senatobia Church of Christ, where he was surrounded by more than a dozen supporters, including the child’s grandparents, many of whom carried “Justice for Baby Kohen” signs.
The family displayed photographs of Kohen’s body, as provided by their pathologist, alongside images of the vehicle, which showed a shattered passenger window and a visible bullet hole in the windshield on the passenger side. Crump emphasized the officers’ knowledge of the child’s presence in the vehicle, questioning their judgment in using lethal force. “They reported they witnessed two adults and this child getting into the vehicle but yet he saw fit to shoot into a moving vehicle when he knew a baby was there,” he remarked.
The incident has drawn stark comparisons to other high-profile cases involving the deaths of Black individuals in response to perceived minor offenses, most notably the murder of George Floyd. Kohen’s mother believes her friend may have already paid for the diapers, further complicating the narrative surrounding the police response.
As the investigation continues, the family is demanding the public release of police body camera footage, dashcam recordings, and Walmart surveillance video, seeking accountability and clarity in a case that has deeply affected their community. A spokesperson for the Mississippi Bureau of Investigation stated that the inquiry is ongoing and declined further comment.
In an initial statement regarding the shooting, state investigators indicated that officers attempted to stop the vehicle, claiming it drove toward them, nearly striking one officer. This assertion has been met with skepticism by Kohen’s family and their supporters, who demand a thorough and transparent investigation into the circumstances surrounding this devastating event.
