In a swift and commendable response, a GoFundMe campaign has raised thousands of dollars to assist the family of Kohen Wiley, a 1-year-old fatally shot by police in Mississippi. The fund seeks to cover funeral and related expenses as tensions escalate in Senatobia, calling for justice in the young boy’s death. As of Friday afternoon, contributions surpassed $3,300 towards a $5,000 goal.
Organizer Christopher Williams expressed the importance of these funds for the family’s healing process during this difficult time. Although it cannot reverse the tragedy, he emphasized that financial support would help ease the emotional and monetary burdens of such a loss.
“This money will help the family tremendously,” Williams noted, highlighting the costs involved in laying a loved one to rest.
Incident Details
The Mississippi Bureau of Investigation is probing the incident, occurring as officers responded to a shoplifting call in Senatobia. Officers encountered two individuals and a child fleeing into a vehicle. As the car moved towards police, reportedly nearly striking an officer, shots were fired at the vehicle, resulting in Kohen’s fatal injury.
In a social media video, Kohen’s mother, Vellesiya Wiley, shared her account. Leaving Walmart with her son, she recounted a friend being stopped by police. She continued walking, initially believing the situation unrelated to her. Her friend reversed the vehicle, leading police to draw their weapons. Wiley raised her son to show he was in the car when shots were fired, hitting Kohen in the rib cage.
The vehicle proceeded to a hospital, but tragically, Kohen was pronounced dead. His great-grandmother, Carolyn Stokes, condemned the police’s actions as reckless and unnecessary.
“It was reckless. It was unnecessary to be firing into a car,” Stokes stated, questioning police procedures and decision-making.
Investigation and Community Reaction
Authorities indicated that bodycam footage might be available in the coming months. Bailey Martin, spokesperson for the Mississippi Department of Public Safety, emphasized a thorough investigation with no specific timeline, prioritizing a careful review before any findings are shared with the Attorney General’s Office.
Attorney Van Turner, representing the Wiley family, asserted that the footage would clear the family’s name, indicating excessive force was used without justification. Turner called for transparency in the investigation.
The Senatobia Police Department committed to transparency by placing the involved officer on leave. Meanwhile, community leader Marquell Bridges highlighted ongoing tensions between law enforcement and Black residents, describing Kohen’s death as a pivotal moment in a history of racial issues in the town.
Past incidents, including police actions against Breshari Faulkner and the arrest of a 10-year-old boy, illustrate a pattern of contentious police interactions with Black residents in Senatobia.
Bernice King, daughter of Martin Luther King, Jr., condemned the disproportionate response to alleged shoplifting, calling for greater value on human life over material goods.
The Mississippi Department of Public Safety Commissioner Sean Tindell urged patience from the community, assuring a comprehensive investigation by dedicated agents gathering evidence and testimonies for review by the Attorney General.