Mississippi Suspends Officer After Walmart Shooting Kills 1-Year-Old as 5 Agents Probe Case
Updated
Updated · abcnews.com · Jun 17
Mississippi Suspends Officer After Walmart Shooting Kills 1-Year-Old as 5 Agents Probe Case
3 articles · Updated · abcnews.com · Jun 17
Summary
Senatobia officials placed the officer on administrative leave after Sunday’s shooting outside a Walmart killed 1-year-old Kohen Wiley and critically injured another adult.
Mississippi investigators said officers responding to a shoplifting call confronted two adults entering a vehicle with the child, and one officer fired when the driver allegedly drove toward police.
Five Mississippi Bureau of Investigation agents are collecting evidence, witness statements and Walmart security video, while body-camera footage will be released only after the probe is completed.
Ben Crump, representing the family, said Kohen’s mother was not charged and tried to tell officers a baby was in the car before shots were fired.
Tuesday protests at City Hall and the Walmart parking lot demanded justice for Kohen; officers in riot gear appeared to use tear gas, and the store briefly closed before reopening Wednesday.
A shoplifting call ends with a baby's death. How do police justify lethal force for such a minor crime?
Police claim a deadly threat; the mother says she warned them. Will bodycam footage reveal the truth?
With technology that can end pursuits safely, why do police chases over non-violent offenses still turn deadly?
1-Year-Old Killed by Police Gunfire in Mississippi Walmart: Timeline, Legal Scrutiny, and Calls for Reform
Overview
On June 14, 2026, a Senatobia police officer fired into a vehicle during a response to an alleged shoplifting call outside a Walmart in Mississippi, resulting in the death of 1-year-old Kohen Wiley. The incident immediately sparked widespread concern and led to multiple investigations, with Walmart expressing sadness and pledging full cooperation with law enforcement. The circumstances of the alleged shoplifting were quickly contested by those involved, fueling public scrutiny and community outrage. As investigations continue, the tragedy has raised serious questions about police use of force, transparency, and accountability, especially when innocent lives are at risk.