A newly released compilation of videos offers a detailed, though incomplete, look at the moments leading up to the fatal shooting of 1-year-old Kohen Wiley by a Mississippi police officer in June. The incident occurred in a Walmart parking lot in Senatobia, a city of approximately 8,400 residents located about 40 miles south of Memphis, Tennessee.
The footage, which includes body-camera recordings from two of the five officers at the scene and surveillance videos, shows officers rushing toward a gray sedan carrying Kohen, his mother Vellesiya Wiley, and another woman identified as Latoya Ferrell. The women were reportedly fleeing after being accused of stealing diapers and baby clothes. The sedan is seen reversing and striking a parked vehicle as officers approach and order the driver to stop.
As the driver attempts to pull forward, the car moves rapidly between officers, one of whom opens fire while standing on the passenger side. The body-camera video captures the officer firing multiple shots at the vehicle. The identity of the officer who discharged the weapon has not been officially confirmed, but Hunter Foster, a Senatobia police officer who was present during the incident, has been placed on leave pending the investigation.
The Mississippi attorney general’s office, which is overseeing the case, declined to comment specifically on the video but announced on Monday that no criminal charges would be filed against the officer involved in the shooting. A law enforcement official verified the video’s authenticity on the condition of anonymity, citing the sensitive nature of the ongoing investigation.
Additional footage from a bird’s-eye view provided by Walmart surveillance cameras shows the two women, one holding Kohen, running toward the vehicle and then driving away as officers pursue them. The videos do not provide a clear view of Kohen inside the vehicle, nor do they include body-camera footage from the officer who fired shots.
The family of the toddler is scheduled to review the full set of videos, which reportedly includes five body-cam recordings and Walmart surveillance footage. Veronica Roberson, Kohen’s grandmother, said the family had been notified by state officials about the extent of the footage.
Kohen’s mother described the chaotic scene, stating that she held the child in her arms in the front passenger seat while Ferrell attempted to reverse and then drive forward. Ferrell sustained serious injuries during the incident.
The shooting has sparked weeks of protests in Senatobia, with activists and the family demanding transparency from local authorities. The release of the video marks a significant step in addressing public concerns, although questions surrounding the use of lethal force in this case remain.