Tragic Incident in Mississippi: 1-Year-Old Boy Dies After Police Shooting

In a heartbreaking incident in Senatobia, Mississippi, a one-year-old boy named Kohen Wiley was tragically killed after police fired at a vehicle during a shoplifting response. The child was in the car with his mother and a family friend, who was also critically injured. The circumstances surrounding the shooting are under investigation, with the family calling for the release of body-camera footage. Kohen's grandfather mourned the loss of his grandchild, emphasizing the tragedy of a life cut short. As the investigation continues, local officials have urged the community to avoid speculation.

By Narendra Chaudhary Jun 17, 2026, 04:59 IST

Overview of the Incident

A tragic event unfolded in Senatobia, Mississippi, where a one-year-old boy, Kohen Wiley, lost his life following a police officer's gunfire during a response to a shoplifting report at a Walmart parking lot. The incident occurred on Sunday afternoon, approximately 40 miles south of Memphis, Tennessee. Kohen was in a vehicle with his mother and a family friend when the shooting took place. The family friend sustained critical injuries, as reported by civil rights attorney Ben Crump, who is representing the family.

The Mississippi Bureau of Investigation (MBI) stated that local police responded to a call at Walmart and encountered two adults and a child entering a vehicle. Officers attempted to stop the vehicle, but the driver allegedly accelerated towards them, nearly hitting one officer. In response, an officer discharged their weapon, striking the vehicle. Kohen was later taken to a nearby hospital, where he was pronounced dead.

The events leading to the shooting are currently under investigation by state authorities. Attorney Crump emphasized that Kohen's mother has not been charged with any crime and had attempted to inform officers about the presence of her baby before the shots were fired. “Kohen Wiley was a baby,” Crump stated. “They fired anyway, leading to the death of an innocent 1-year-old.”

Additionally, the family's legal representatives have contested claims suggesting that Kohen's mother was involved in any theft. Attorney Malik Shabazz Bridges clarified in a social media post that she was “not a witness to or accomplice to any crime” and had been playing with her son just before entering the vehicle.

The family is now advocating for the release of police body-camera footage and Walmart surveillance recordings. Kohen's grandfather, Carlos Haynes, fondly remembered him as a joyful child whose life was cut short. “Someone ended it all before it could even start,” he expressed to the Associated Press.

The MBI is overseeing the investigation and will submit its findings to the Mississippi Attorney General's Office once completed. Local officials in Senatobia have described the child's death as a “heartbreaking tragedy” and have urged the community to refrain from speculation while the investigation is ongoing.