The Mississippi Attorney General has determined evidence in the shooting of a baby in the arms of his mother as they attempted to flee a Walmart parking lot in June was justified.
“Today, the Office of the Attorney General announced it has completed the review of a June 14, 2026, incident in Senatobia involving one officer with the Senatobia Police Department,” the office of Mississippi Attorney General Lynn Fitch said in a statement, released shortly after noon Monday. “In this incident, the Attorney General’s Office found the use of force was justified.”
Fitch’s office went on to cite Section 45-1-6 of the Mississippi Code, and her review of the case and ruling followed an investigation by the Mississippi Bureau of Investigation.
The law Fitch cited commands the Mississippi Bureau of Investigation to fully investigate any shooting involving a law enforcement officer. That same law allows the state’s highest prosecutor – the Mississippi Attorney General – to review that investigation and determine if it was justified or if a state law was broken and an indictment should be issued and presented to a local Grand Jury.
Kohen Wiley, 17-months, died Sunday, June 14 while riding in a vehicle with his mother, Vellesiya Wiley, 20, of Batesville, and Latoya Alexandria Ferrell, 22, of Sardis, in the Walmart parking lot in Senatobia. According to a report, police were responding to a shoplifting call and attempted to stop the vehicle, but the driver drove toward the officers and struck one and possibly two of them.
Tate County Sheriff Luke Shepherd said all his officers are on standby and the public will see a more visible presence across the county over the next few days.
Senatobia saw large protests and racist and vulgar language downtown during a city board meeting following the shooting. Groups from outside the city and state also descended on Senatobia to march and gather on Walmart’s parking lot. Tear gas was used to disperse one gathering.
“I have talked to (Senatobia Police) Chief Angelica Maze and all our officers are on standby,” said Shepherd. “I ask the community to respect the rule of law and the ruling of the Attorney General at this time.”
Shepherd said “other resources” are available if requested by the city or county.
Shepherd said there is an established process for officer involved shootings and that process has and will be followed in Tate County.
MBI obtained the body cameras of the five officers – three police officers and two deputies - involved in the shooting.
Walmart has one of the most sophisticated surveillance systems in the nation and its video from both inside and outside the store aided in the investigation.
Tate County District Attorney Jay Hale said he was notified by the Attorney General Monday morning and has not seen the details of the case and did not want to comment on what his office might or might not do.
The family could still pursue a civil suit and that would probably be determined by their attorney Ben Crump.
Hale would not comment on any possible charges against the mother and driver of the car until he had a chance to review the evidence and the Attorney General decision.
The process of announcing the decision has the family notified first, followed by the parties or attorneys involved and then the local District Attorney, Sheriff and Police Chief.
Hale said at this point the Attorney General will not likely pursue an indictment from a Tate County Grand Jury against the officer involved since she has determined use of force was justified.
Senatobia Mayor Greg Graves said Monday morning he had no comment at this time.
"I am just finding out about this,” said Graves, “so for me to comment on the results of the investigation and the decision is a bit premature."
Attempts to contact Senatobia Police Chief Angelica Maze were unsuccessful and will be added to this story when they become available.
Department of Public Safety Commissioner Sean Tindell was at the city board meeting two days after the shooting and told the packed room that MBI was charged by state law with investigating all officer-involved shootings and would be leading this investigation.
The city board later placed the police officer involved in the shooting on paid administrative leave.
Tindell pleaded with the community to have patience as the investigation continues into what happened on the parking lot after police tried to stop two adults who allegedly did not pay for items and left the store.
Tindell said what happened was tragic and his department has been working on this case since then. Tindell said five investigators were assigned to this case and all evidence was presented to the Mississippi Attorney General for review to determine if charges will be filed against the officers involved.
Tindell also said most details of the case will now become public record and can be obtained by attorneys, news sources and the general public.
Tindell said at that time most officer involved investigations average several months. Senatobia’s case lasted five months.
Both Tindell and Hale have said charges could be brought against the mother and driver of the car.
Tindell has asked anyone with information, cellphone video or details about this incident, or the people involved, to contact his office immediately. The case could be reopened if new evidence is presented.
Tindall also pointed out the complete file will be made public record and open to anyone to obtain once the investigation is complete.
This story will be update on this website as additional information becomes available.
- Copyright Emmerich Newspapers Inc.
