Family disputes Mississippi ruling after body-cam footage reveals police response to shoplifting call

Key points

• Mississippi AG Lynn Fitch’s office ruled the shooting of Kohen Wiley justified after a four-month review by the Mississippi Bureau of Investigation.
• The incident occurred in June 2026 in a Walmart parking lot in Senatobia, Mississippi, following a report of shoplifting diapers.
• Attorneys Ben Crump and Van Turner stated that five officers approached the vehicle with guns drawn, which they described as excessive for a misdemeanor.
• Kohen’s maternal grandmother, Veronica Roberson, criticized the AG’s office for not notifying the family before the ruling and for allowing footage to leak.
• The family’s legal team is requesting a federal investigation and civil recourse, arguing the state’s three-sentence statement lacked detail.
• An independent autopsy commissioned by the family concluded the fatal shot came from the side of the car, contradicting the officer’s claim of imminent danger.

Background

This incident follows a pattern of scrutiny regarding police conduct in Mississippi, where the Senatobia Police chief was recently ousted for using racist language in private messages. Records obtained by Mississippi Today and The New York Times indicated that the officer involved, Sgt. Hunter Foster, made a racist remark to a colleague days before the shooting. The Mississippi Legislative Black Caucus has condemned the AG’s decision, demanding transparency and an explanation for the ruling.

How outlets are covering it

The Mississippi Attorney General’s office and the officer’s attorney, Martin Zummach, maintain that the shooting was a justified use of force. Zummach argued that the vehicle was moving toward the officers, leaving Sgt. Hunter Foster no choice but to fire his weapon. In contrast, the Wiley family and their attorneys, Ben Crump and Van Turner, dispute this narrative. They argue the footage shows the car was not heading toward police and that the officers’ initial response was reckless. Crump emphasized that shoplifting is a misdemeanor that does not warrant lethal force, while the family’s grandmother, Veronica Roberson, expressed grief over the lack of communication from state authorities. NPR highlighted the broader context of racial tensions in the department, noting that the AG’s brief statement failed to address these concerns.

Why it matters

The case highlights ongoing tensions regarding police use of force in response to minor crimes and the lack of transparency in state investigations. The release of body-worn camera footage and the call for federal oversight may set a precedent for how similar incidents are handled in Mississippi and other jurisdictions. The dispute over the cause of the fatal shot and the initial police response raises significant questions about accountability and the protection of vulnerable individuals, including children, during law enforcement interactions.

What to watch

The family’s legal team is pursuing federal investigation and civil litigation. The full body-worn camera footage is expected to be released to the public, which may provide further clarity on the sequence of events. The Mississippi Legislative Black Caucus is likely to continue pressuring state officials for a more detailed explanation of the AG’s decision. The case may also influence future policies regarding police response to misdemeanor offenses and the use of force in similar situations.