About 200 people protesting outside a Senatobia Walmart and City Hall were dispersed with tear gas Tuesday, two days after a police officer shot and killed 1-year-old Kohen Wiley during a shoplifting response.
The officer fired into a moving car on June 14, killing Wiley and injuring the driver; police said the vehicle drove toward the officer, while some witnesses and the family dispute that account and deny any shoplifting.
Tuesday evening, the mayor and Board of Aldermen placed the officer on administrative leave, though he has not been publicly identified.
Five Mississippi Department of Public Safety agents and the attorney general's office are investigating, and Commissioner Sean Tindell said body-camera and Walmart video will be withheld until the inquiry ends.
Residents and outside supporters tied Wiley's death to years of strained relations with Senatobia police in the city of about 8,500, citing earlier controversial arrests and demanding justice.
What will unreleased bodycam footage reveal about the deadly shooting of a one-year-old in a Walmart parking lot?
With a famed civil rights attorney involved, will the officer who killed a toddler ever face criminal charges?
Police knew a baby was inside the car. Why was lethal force still used on the fleeing vehicle?
Aftermath of June 14, 2026 Senatobia Police Shooting: Child Killed, Community Protests, and Scrutiny of Department Practices
Overview
Following the fatal officer-involved shooting in Senatobia, Mississippi on June 14, 2026, which resulted in the tragic death of a child and critical injuries to others, the community was left with many unanswered questions and a deep sense of confusion and outrage. Conflicting accounts and limited information from officials fueled public demands for transparency and accountability. Evidence appeared to contradict the official narrative about the incident, raising critical questions about the justification for the use of force. The lack of arrests and ongoing investigations further intensified community frustration, leading to renewed calls for justice and clear answers from authorities.