Fatal Police Shooting of Toddler in Mississippi Sparks Investigation

A one-year-old child was fatally shot and another person wounded when a Senatobia police officer fired at a vehicle following a shoplifting call. The March 2, 2025 incident has prompted an investigation by state authorities and drawn scrutiny from community members and legal advocates.

Incident Timeline

According to the Mississippi Bureau of Investigation (MBI), Senatobia police officers responded to a shoplifting call at a local Walmart on the afternoon of March 2. Officers encountered two women and a juvenile child exiting the store and entering a vehicle.

The MBI reports that officers attempted to stop the vehicle, but the driver drove in the direction of an officer, nearly striking them. An officer then discharged their weapon, firing at the vehicle. The driver proceeded to a hospital, where the child was pronounced dead.

Victims and Injuries

The deceased child has been identified as Kohen Wiley, a one-year-old boy. The child's mother, Vellesiya Wiley, was in the vehicle but was not injured. A family friend, who was driving the vehicle, sustained serious injuries from the gunfire.

Disputed Accounts

Accounts of the incident differ on key details. The Mississippi Bureau of Investigation states that the driver drove toward an officer. Kohen's mother, Vellesiya Wiley, disputed this claim, stating that the driver was not driving toward officers. She also questioned the shoplifting allegation, stating that the driver had paid for the diapers she was carrying.

"The driver had paid for the diapers she was carrying," said the child's mother, Vellesiya Wiley, directly contradicting the shoplifting claim.

Investigation

The officer involved has been placed on administrative leave. The Mississippi Bureau of Investigation is reviewing the case and has stated it will release video footage upon completion of its inquiry. Findings will be turned over to the Mississippi Attorney General's Office.

The Senatobia Police Department has stated it is committed to full transparency regarding the incident. Walmart has expressed sadness over the incident and stated it is cooperating with law enforcement.

Community and Expert Responses

Carlos Haynes, the child's grandfather, described his grandson as a happy baby and expressed grief over the loss. Marquell Bridges, a local community advocate, is assisting the family in finding legal representation.

Civil rights attorney Ben Crump has stated that the child's mother was trying to communicate that a baby was in the car.

"Shooting into a moving vehicle is generally discouraged in modern policing due to risks to occupants." — Ian Adams, criminal justice professor at the University of South Carolina

Local Context

Activists in Senatobia have cited previous incidents involving police and Black residents. These include:

• A 2023 incident in which an officer used a Taser on a woman during a parking space dispute.
• A 2023 incident in which a 10-year-old Black boy was arrested for urinating in a parking lot. The boy's family settled a federal lawsuit with the city in 2024.

The city of Senatobia has a population that is approximately 40% Black, while the mayor and most aldermen are white.