Mississippi AG says use of force was 'justified' in fatal shooting of toddler

A one-year-old, Kohen Wiley, was killed in June when an officer fired at a vehicle during a police pursuit after a Walmart shoplifting call in Senatobia, Mississippi. Police say officers chased two adults in a car and an officer shot when the driver allegedly drove toward officers; Kohen’s mother, a passenger, denies the car moved toward police. Mississippi’s attorney general reviewed the case and issued a three-sentence finding that the use of force was justified and that the officer will not be prosecuted, without explaining the review’s evidence or reasoning.

The decision has provoked outrage and demands for transparency. Mississippi’s Legislative Black Caucus and local leaders have pressed for release of video and full disclosure, saying the family and public deserve the facts. Investigative reporting uncovered that the officer involved made a racist remark days before the shooting and that the Senatobia police chief was removed after revelations of racist private texts, intensifying calls for a broader probe of department culture. The family’s lawyer called the AG’s ruling perplexing and said they will pursue federal and civil legal options as the community seeks accountability.