SENATOBIA, Mississippi — Heartbroken family members, friends, and community supporters gathered this week to remember 1-year-old Kohen Wiley, the young child tragically killed in a police shooting at a local Walmart. Flowers, candles, balloons, and heartfelt tributes now mark the site, as residents call for answers, accountability, and justice.
Kohen was sH๏τ and killed on Sunday, June 14, 2026, when Senatobia police responded to a reported shoplifting incident. According to authorities, officers approached a vehicle leaving the store. An officer fired sH๏τs, striking Kohen and the driver. The vehicle then fled the scene. Kohen’s mother, Vellesiya Wiley, has shared that she held up her son to show officers he was in the car and insists the group had paid for the items with a receipt. She maintains the car was driving away, not toward officers.
The officer involved has been placed on administrative leave. The Mississippi Bureau of Investigation is leading the probe, and bodycam and surveillance footage are expected to be reviewed. Civil rights attorney Ben Crump is representing the family.
Community Response and Calls for Justice Outrage over the incident quickly grew, leading to protests outside Senatobia City Hall and the Walmart. Demonstrators demanded transparency and the officer’s arrest. Tensions escalated when authorities used tear gas to disperse crowds.