A lawyer for the family of Kohen Wiley, a 1-year-old boy who died during a police shooting, is urging the release of body camera footage. The incident occurred when police responded to a shoplifting call. Mississippi’s Attorney General, Lynn Fitch, concluded that the officer’s actions were justified and no criminal charges would be filed.
“In this incident, the Attorney General’s Office found the use of force was justified,” stated Fitch’s office. The decision follows protests demanding justice in Senatobia, Mississippi, where the shooting took place. This incident added to tensions between police and Black residents in the community.
Ben Crump, a well-known civil rights lawyer representing Kohen’s family, highlighted the lack of transparency as the public has not seen the footage. He questioned how the Attorney General’s conclusion could be accepted without the video evidence.
How can anyone accept that conclusion when Kohen’s family and the public still have not been allowed to see the body-camera footage?
Crump added that releasing the footage could validate the state’s findings. He vowed to continue advocating for the family until the truth is revealed.
Crump previously stated that an independent autopsy suggested the fatal shot came from the vehicle’s passenger-side window, conflicting with police accounts that the car was moving toward them.
The officer’s representative, Martin Zummach, argued that the Attorney General’s findings cleared his client. Zummach stated the vehicle driver attempted to harm the officers, forcing his client to shoot.
Incident Overview
The shooting happened on June 14, when officers responded to a shoplifting allegation at Walmart. Kohen’s mother, Vellesiya Wiley, and a friend left the store, attracting police attention. Officers suspected stolen items, but no charges were filed against Wiley or her friend.
The Mississippi Bureau of Investigation (MBI) reported that the driver aimed the vehicle at officers, prompting one to open fire. Wiley recounted raising her son to show officers he was in the car, before hearing multiple gunshots. One bullet struck Kohen, while others injured her friend.
Footage Release Status
No relevant video, including body camera or CCTV footage, has been released. Authorities stated these would remain confidential until the investigation concludes. Sean Tindell of the Mississippi Department of Public Safety confirmed this policy. Requests for footage can be made through public records procedures.
A spokesperson from the Mississippi Department of Public Safety emphasized that any requests will be processed according to legal regulations.