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An independent autopsy commissioned by the family of Kohen Wiley, a 1-year-old boy fatally shot by police in Mississippi, has raised new questions about the circumstances surrounding his death. The findings add to increasing demands for transparency in the investigation that has unfolded since the June 14 shooting.
Prominent civil rights attorneys Ben Crump and Van Turner, representing Wiley’s family, shared preliminary autopsy results at a July 1 news conference. According to Crump, the autopsy concluded that Wiley died from a shotgun wound to the torso. The wound entered on the right side of his chest and exited on the left, with the manner of death officially ruled a homicide.
These findings challenge police claims that officers fired as a vehicle was driving directly toward them. Crump highlighted this discrepancy by showing a photograph of the vehicle, which had a shattered passenger window and a bullet hole in the front windshield.
“How are you going to fear for your life when you’re shooting from the side?” Crump questioned during the briefing.
The family had pushed for an independent autopsy to ensure transparency and accountability, following the national attention and protests triggered by Wiley’s death in Senatobia, a small city about 40 miles south of Memphis, Tennessee.
The Shooting Incident
Police responded to a reported shoplifting incident at a Walmart in Senatobia around 2 p.m. on June 14. Upon arrival, officers reportedly saw two adults and a child fleeing the store and entering a vehicle. According to the Mississippi Department of Public Safety, officers attempted to stop the vehicle as it allegedly drove toward them, prompting one officer to discharge their firearm.
Wiley, who was in the car, was pronounced dead after the vehicle reached a local hospital. Another injured individual received treatment, and no officers were hurt. Crump stated that Wiley was seated in his mother’s car when police opened fire, despite attempts by Wiley’s mother to alert officers that a child was inside.
“They fired anyway, leading to the death of an innocent 1-year-old,” Crump said, vowing to seek justice for Kohen Wiley.
Family’s Account and Calls for Transparency
In a video statement provided by Crump’s office, Wiley’s mother, Vellesiya Wiley, described the events differently. She said she, her son, and a friend were leaving Walmart when officers stopped her friend.
She and Kohen walked to their car, not involved in the initial incident. When her friend returned and the car began to back out, officers allegedly approached with guns drawn.
“I raised my baby up, trying to show them that he was in the car,” Wiley recounted. Shots were fired moments later, hitting Kohen in the rib cage and injuring another individual in the vehicle.
Addressing reports that the shoplifting involved diapers, Wiley stated her friend was purchasing diapers, likely recorded on self-checkout cameras. She disputed claims that the driver tried to hit officers, saying officers were positioned on the right side while her friend was driving to the left.
Community Remembers Kohen Wiley
Funeral services held on June 27 brought together approximately 200 family members, friends, and supporters at the Hosanna Family Worship Center in Pope, Mississippi. The service was personalized with colors and themes from “Bluey,” one of Wiley’s favorite children’s shows.
Attorney Van Turner, speaking at the funeral, emphasized that while the day was to honor Kohen’s life, it also marked the start of a pursuit for justice and accountability. “It’s up to Senatobia to protect this family; it’s up to the community to make sure we are not back here tomorrow, next week, month, or year,” he said.
The Senatobia Police Department has since launched an internal investigation, placing the officer involved on administrative leave. The city’s mayor has publicly pledged a commitment to transparency throughout the process.
As the community continues to seek answers, the case of Kohen Wiley remains a poignant reminder of the urgent need for clarity and justice in law enforcement encounters.