Family Seeks Justice After Toddler Killed by Police Gunfire

The great-grandmother of a 1-year-old boy, fatally shot by a police officer responding to a reported shoplifting incident, has criticized the approach as ‘reckless.’ Carolyn Stokes, aged 72, expressed her belief that divine justice will prevail following the tragic death of her great-grandson, Kohen Wiley, outside a Walmart in Senatobia, Mississippi.

Stokes questioned the necessity of the officer’s actions during an interview with Newsweek. She wondered why the officer chose to fire into a vehicle, stating, ‘It was reckless, it was unnecessary to be firing into a car.’ Stokes also expressed confusion over the officer’s decision to draw a weapon on potential shoplifters instead of entering the store, adding, ‘Because they were rushing from the store, they could’ve just been in a hurry.’

The officer involved has been placed on administrative leave as an investigation continues. Stokes further accused the officer of acting impulsively, suggesting, ‘I might as well say he had killing on his mind.’ She emphasized her faith, stating, ‘God has the last say; he will bring this all to the forefront in due time.’

The Mississippi Bureau of Investigation reported that officers encountered ‘two subjects and a juvenile’ fleeing from the Walmart into a vehicle. According to a statement, ‘Officers attempted to stop the vehicle, but the driver drove in the direction of the officers, almost striking one.’ This led an officer to discharge their weapon, after which the vehicle left the scene. The subjects later arrived at a hospital where Kohen was pronounced deceased, and another individual suffered critical injuries. No officers were seriously injured.

During the incident, Kohen’s mother and her friend were in the vehicle. The mother was unharmed, while her friend sustained serious injuries. Marquell Bridges, a local advocate with the Building Bridges Coalition, stated that Kohen’s mother did not engage in theft or witness any crime. He wrote on Facebook, ‘She was skipping and playing with her child Kohen to the car moments earlier not fleeing a theft.’

Kohen’s grandfather, Carlos Haynes, expressed his sorrow over the lost opportunity to see his grandson grow, lamenting, ‘Someone ended it all before it could even start,’ in his conversation with the Associated Press.

Bailey Martin from the Mississippi Department of Public Safety confirmed that the investigation is ongoing and refrained from commenting further, ‘This is an open and ongoing investigation.’

The Senatobia Police have pledged transparency in their investigation into the shooting. They assured the public via Facebook, ‘We are committed to full transparency. As the investigation progresses and facts are verified, we will share as much information as possible.’