A tragic incident in Senatobia, Mississippi, has left a 1-year-old boy dead after a police officer opened fire on the vehicle he was in. Kohen Kartier Wiley was shot and killed by an officer responding to an alleged shoplifting at a Walmart.
Details of the Incident
According to the Senatobia Police Department, officers were called to the Walmart store after reports of a shoplifting. The boy's mother and aunt were reportedly driving 'in the direction of officers' when the officer discharged his weapon. The department's statement indicated that officers were aware of a child's presence in the vehicle.
Police Statement
'Upon arrival, officers encountered two subjects and a juvenile child fleeing from the store into a vehicle. Officers attempted to stop the vehicle, but the driver drove in the direction of the officers, almost striking one,' the department said. 'An officer then discharged their weapon, and the vehicle fled the scene. The subjects arrived at a local hospital, where one juvenile child in the vehicle was pronounced deceased, and another subject had critical injuries. No law enforcement officers received any serious physical injury.'
Witness Accounts
Witnesses described a chaotic scene. One witness reported seeing police waiting in the parking lot as the two women left the store, one carrying a box of diapers and the other holding baby Kohen. Another witness recounted: 'I saw the officers take off running, not in the car, I’m talking about on foot, and these are the Sheriffs and the police. They’re running through the parking lot, and I see the car take off, you know, so in my head, I’m like, I know they’re not chasing the car, they don’t think they’re going to catch the car. Then I hear gunshots, and I’m like, I know they’re not shooting at a car that’s leaving in a public place, this is Walmart.'
Family's Grief
Carolyn Stokes, the great-grandmother of the baby, expressed her anguish: 'Senatobia Police Department get away with too much stuff. I hear about it all the time, it’s in the news all the time, y’all probably down here all the time, recording this stuff, but it’s just too much.'
Previous Controversies
Last year, local media reported an incident where a woman was tasered and tackled after officers saw her 'illegally park in a handicapped spot'. The woman claimed she was dropping off her grandmother.
Police Response
The Senatobia Police Department released a statement saying: 'We are committed to full transparency. As the investigation progresses and facts are verified, we will share as much information as possible.'
