Newly released police body-camera footage has brought renewed attention to the case of Kohen Wiley, a one-year-old boy who lost his life during a police encounter outside a Walmart in Senatobia, Mississippi, on June 14, 2026. The video has raised fresh questions about the events leading up to the incident, while the officer involved has since resigned from the department.
The footage shows officers rushing from the store after an employee alerted them that two women were leaving. The women, Vellesiya Wiley, Kohen’s mother, and Latoya Ferrell, were near a vehicle with the child when officers attempted to intervene.
According to the released recordings, the vehicle reversed, struck a parked car and then moved toward officers as the driver attempted to leave. Officer Hunter Foster positioned himself near the front of the vehicle before firing three times. Kohen, who was being held by his mother in the front passenger seat, was struck, along with Ferrell, who was driving.
In another portion of the footage, an officer acknowledges that he had not seen the child inside the vehicle. The recordings have intensified public scrutiny of the decisions made during those brief and chaotic moments.
State Officials Rule The Use Of Force Justified
On October 19, Mississippi Attorney General Lynn Fitch announced that the officer’s actions were justified under the circumstances identified in the state investigation. The decision means state prosecutors will not pursue criminal charges against the officer based on that review.
However, the conclusion has been strongly challenged by attorneys representing Kohen’s family. Civil rights attorney Ben Crump argued that the response was disproportionate and called for further accountability.
The family’s legal team has also questioned aspects of the official account and said it intends to continue pursuing answers. Their response highlights the continuing disagreement over whether the officer’s actions were necessary when the vehicle was attempting to leave.
Officer Resigns As Family Continues Seeking Answers
On October 22, attorneys for Kohen’s family announced that Foster had resigned from the Senatobia Police Department. The development came as his body-camera footage was released publicly.
The family has called for further scrutiny of the officer’s conduct, including possible decertification and a federal investigation. Their attorneys have emphasized that the state’s decision does not end their efforts to seek accountability.
Kohen’s grandmother, LaSandra Williams, has also expressed difficulty understanding how officials could conclude that the officer’s actions were justified.
Meanwhile, the state’s investigation found that the driver moved the vehicle toward officers, a finding supported by portions of the footage. The family’s representatives continue to dispute whether that circumstance justified the level of force used.
Questions Remain After The Video Release
The case began with a police response to a reported shoplifting incident involving diapers and baby clothes. Neither Vellesiya Wiley nor Latoya Ferrell had been charged in connection with the reported shoplifting as of the latest reports cited here.
The newly released recordings have provided a clearer view of the encounter, but they have not resolved the wider dispute over the officer’s decision or the accountability that should follow.
For Kohen’s family, the focus remains on understanding how the encounter unfolded and ensuring that their concerns receive further review. As calls for a federal investigation continue, the case remains a closely watched example of the difficult questions that arise when law enforcement decisions result in the loss of a young child.