Mississippi releases bodycam footage of fatal shooting of 1-year-old Kohen Wiley

Key points

• Sgt. Hunter Foster of the Senatobia police department shot and killed 1-year-old Kohen Wiley on June 14 during a response to a shoplifting call.
• The Mississippi Department of Public Safety released video from multiple officers' body cameras, including Foster's, showing the incident in a Walmart parking lot.
• The footage shows Vellesiya Wiley holding Kohen as she and a friend enter a vehicle, which then reverses and accelerates away from officers with guns drawn.
• Foster is seen stepping toward the car, jumping out of the way, and firing a shot that shatters the front passenger window where Kohen was seated.
• The Mississippi Attorney General’s office concluded in October that Foster’s use of force was appropriate and no criminal charges will be filed.
• Civil rights attorney Ben Crump, representing the family, argues the video shows Foster was not in imminent danger and fired from the side of the car.

Background

This incident follows the October 2026 announcement by Mississippi Attorney General Lynn Fitch that the shooting was justified. Prior to the full video release, partial footage had been leaked by Darkhorse Press, a local outlet founded by a former department communications director. The family and legal team have consistently disputed the state’s findings, citing conflicting autopsy results and withheld evidence. The case mirrors other recent high-profile police shooting cases in the region where use-of-force decisions have been contested by civil rights advocates.

Why it matters

The release of the full bodycam footage provides a critical visual record for public scrutiny of police use of force in Mississippi. It highlights the tension between state law enforcement conclusions and civil rights advocacy regarding the proportionality of force used against fleeing suspects, particularly in cases involving children. The incident underscores ongoing debates about accountability, transparency, and the legal standards for shooting at moving vehicles.

What to watch

The family’s legal team has called for the federal government to investigate the shooting. No criminal charges have been filed against Vellesiya Wiley or her friend. The case may proceed through civil litigation or further public advocacy, as the family continues to challenge the state’s determination that the force was justified.