Mississippi Attorney General has ruled that the use of force by a police officer was justified in the fatal shooting of a 1-year-old boy in a Walmart parking lot. The incident occurred in June when officers responded to a shoplifting call, and a vehicle carrying the child allegedly fled from police.
Body camera footage released shows Senatobia police officers pursuing a grey sedan with two women inside. The vehicle reverses and appears to strike an officer before accelerating towards other officers. In the video, one officer opens fire into the car.
Kohen Wiley, the 1-year-old, was struck by a bullet and later died. The driver of the vehicle and another occupant were critically injured. The Mississippi Bureau of Investigation stated that officers fired after the vehicle drove toward them.
Officer Hunter Foster was placed on leave during the investigation, though he has not been directly named as the officer who discharged his weapon. The attorney general's office announced its finding that the use of force was justified on Monday.
Civil rights attorney Ben Crump, representing the child's family, called the shooting unjustified and questioned how firing into a moving vehicle with an infant inside could be deemed acceptable. An independent pathologist ruled the shooting a homicide, according to Crump.
The incident began on June 14 after officers suspected the driver, Vellesiya Wiley, and her friend, Latoya Ferrell, of stealing diapers and baby clothes from the Walmart. The attorney general's office reviewed the case and determined the actions taken by law enforcement were justified.