A mother expressed her shock when her one-year-old child was fatally shot by police during an incident in Senatobia, Mississippi. Vellesiya Wiley recounted attempting to show officers that her son, Kohen, was in the car before the police fired. The situation unfolded when officers confronted them over allegations of shoplifting nappies at Walmart.
According to Vellesiya, her friend, who was driving, accidentally hit a car while backing up as officers approached with guns drawn. Despite her efforts to indicate her baby’s presence, shots were fired, resulting in Kohen being hit in the ribcage and her friend sustaining injuries. Kohen tragically passed away at a local hospital, while Vellesiya’s friend was airlifted in critical condition.
Describing Kohen as a joyful baby whose life was cut short, his grandfather, Carlos Haynes, lamented that someone had ended his life prematurely. Vellesiya maintained that neither she nor her friend had committed any crime, with security footage likely confirming her friend’s innocence.
Community advocate Marquell Bridges emphasized that Vellesiya was not involved in any criminal activity, highlighting the tragic turn of events that led to Kohen’s death. Civil rights attorney Ben Crump vowed to seek justice for Kohen, condemning the shooting of the innocent child.
Differing accounts emerged regarding the incident, with the Mississippi Bureau of Investigation reporting that the vehicle had driven towards officers, prompting an officer to fire at the car. The MBI launched an investigation, which included reviewing witness testimonies and video evidence from body cameras and store surveillance footage.
Protests ensued outside Walmart, with demands for transparency and a thorough investigation into the heartbreaking tragedy. While the footage is withheld pending the MBI’s inquiry, the Senatobia police department assured a commitment to transparency, stating that the incident was under investigation and urging cooperation with authorities.