SENATOBIA, MS – A Senatobia police officer has been placed on administrative leave following a Sunday afternoon shooting outside a local Walmart that left a 1-year-old boy dead and an adult critically injured.
The Incident
The shooting occurred Sunday afternoon when officers responded to a shoplifting call at the Walmart in Senatobia, located about 40 miles south of Memphis.
According to the Mississippi Bureau of Investigation (MBI), officers encountered two adults fleeing the store with a child. The bureau stated that an officer opened fire when the driver allegedly drove the vehicle toward them.
Victims Identified
The civil rights law firm Ben Crump Law, which is representing the family, identified the deceased child as 1-year-old Kohen Wiley.
The boy’s mother was unharmed and has not been charged with any crime. However, a family friend who was also in the vehicle sustained critical injuries and remains hospitalized. Attorney Ben Crump stated that the mother was “trying to communicate to officers that there was a baby in the car” before the shots were fired.
Community Outrage and Protests
The deadly incident has sparked intense local backlash. On Tuesday, protesters gathered outside Senatobia City Hall demanding “Justice for Kohen.”
Later that evening, demonstrations escalated in the Walmart parking lot, prompting a response from officers in riot gear. The store was temporarily closed but reopened Wednesday morning. Walmart corporate issued a statement expressing sadness over the tragedy and confirming cooperation with law enforcement.
Official Investigation Underway
The MBI has assigned five agents to conduct an independent investigation into the shooting. Mississippi Department of Public Safety Commissioner Sean Tindell promised transparency and confirmed that body-camera footage will be released once the probe concludes.
The name of the officer involved has not been made public. Senatobia city officials have urged the community to remain patient and avoid spreading unverified information while investigators gather evidence and review surveillance footage.
