Attorney General Lynn Fitch announced Monday that the officer who fired into a moving vehicle at a Walmart parking lot in Senatobia on June 14 will face no criminal charges. Fitch said the use of force was justified, a conclusion that follows a Mississippi Bureau of Investigation inquiry that also declined to file charges.
The decision arrives amid a dispute over the incident that left 1‑year‑old Kohen Wiley dead and his mother, Latoya Ferrell, injured. Civil‑rights groups, forensic experts and the Wiley family are pressing for the release of body‑camera footage that could clarify the circumstances of the shot.
Police say officers responded to a report of shoplifting involving diapers and baby clothing. When officers arrived, the vehicle, driven by Ferrell with the infant in the back seat, allegedly moved toward the officers. An officer fired a single round from his cruiser; the bullet struck the child, shattered the passenger‑side windshield and wounded Ferrell. No charges were filed against the two women for the alleged shoplifting.
The family’s counsel released an independent autopsy indicating the bullet entered the child’s side, contradicting the department’s claim that the car was heading directly at officers. Police‑use‑of‑force specialist John P. Gross notes that shooting at a moving vehicle is “generally unjustified” unless officers face an immediate threat of death or serious injury. Ballistics expert Charles “Joe” Key added that the trajectory suggests the officer was not in imminent danger when he fired.
Without video, officials cannot confirm the vehicle’s speed or direction. The sheriff’s office says the footage remains withheld pending the ongoing investigation, while activists argue that transparency is essential to assess whether the officer’s perception of threat was reasonable. The AG’s office has not detailed the evidentiary basis for its justification, prompting questions about the standards applied in the review.
Senatobia police have been under scrutiny after a 2022 incident in which a Black woman was threatened with a taser in the same Walmart lot and a 2021 case in which an officer was dismissed after arresting a Black 10‑year‑old. Those episodes have eroded trust between the department and the community, and the latest ruling may deepen that divide.
For the Wiley family, the ruling offers no solace. Mother Vellesiya Wiley and friend Ferrell are coping with the loss of a child and serious injuries while pursuing a wrongful‑death lawsuit. Community organizers have scheduled a press conference to demand the video’s release and to call for an independent review of the department’s use‑of‑force policies.
State officials say the AG’s decision does not automatically change existing statutes, but the controversy could spur legislative scrutiny of body‑camera requirements and police‑training protocols. Lawmakers in Jackson have expressed interest in hearings on police accountability, and the Mississippi Police Association said it will monitor any policy changes.
The next steps hinge on whether the video will be disclosed and how courts handle the family’s civil claims. Until those questions are answered, the incident remains a flashpoint for debates over police authority, transparency and public trust in Mississippi law enforcement.