UMVA has learned that a tragic incident unfolded in a Walmart car park in Mississippi, where a one-year-old boy was fatally shot by a police officer during a response to an alleged shoplifting call.
The child, identified as Kohen Kartier Wiley, was in a car with his mother and aunt when the officer opened fire, killing him instantly. According to information obtained by UMVA, the police had been alerted to the presence of a juvenile in the vehicle before they responded to the scene.
The Senatobia Police Department reported that officers had encountered two subjects and a juvenile child fleeing from the store into a vehicle. The officers claimed that the driver drove in their direction, almost striking one officer, before the officer discharged their weapon.
Witnesses described a chaotic scene, with police waiting in the parking lot as the two women left Walmart, one holding a box of diapers and the other holding baby Kohen. The witnesses also reported seeing officers running through the parking lot and hearing gunshots as the car fled the scene.
The incident has sparked outrage, with Carolyn Stokes, baby Kohen's great-grandmother, expressing her concerns about police actions in the area. She stated that the Senatobia Police Department "gets away with too much stuff" and that she was tired of hearing about similar incidents in the news.
The Senatobia Police Department has released a statement committing to full transparency and promising to share more information as the investigation progresses. The incident has raised questions about police procedures and the use of force in situations involving innocent bystanders.
The community is still reeling from the shock of the incident, and many are demanding answers about the circumstances surrounding the fatal shooting of baby Kohen.
