UMVA has learned that a tragic incident unfolded in Mississippi, where a one-year-old boy was fatally shot by a police officer in a Walmart car park 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. According to information obtained by UMVA, the police had been responding to a report of shoplifting at the Walmart branch.
As the officer approached the vehicle, the driver allegedly drove in the direction of the officers, almost striking one of them. The officer then discharged their weapon, and the vehicle fled the scene.
Witnesses described the chaotic scene, with one woman carrying Kohen and the other carrying diapers. Another witness reported seeing officers running through the parking lot, and then hearing gunshots as the car drove away.
The Senatobia Police Department released a statement, claiming that officers had encountered two subjects and a juvenile child fleeing from the store into a vehicle. The department stated that they attempted to stop the vehicle but were forced to discharge their weapon when the driver drove towards them.
The incident has sparked outrage, with Carolyn Stokes, Kohen's great-grandmother, expressing her concerns about police conduct. She stated that the Senatobia Police Department "gets away with too much stuff" and that she hears about similar incidents all the time.
The police department has promised to be transparent and share information as the investigation progresses. However, for many, the incident raises serious questions about police accountability and the use of force in such situations.
