By The People’s Paper MS
SENATOBIA, Miss. — One day after a grieving Mississippi family laid their 1-year-old baby to rest, prominent civil rights attorney Van Turner is demanding answers and full transparency from local law enforcement.
Speaking directly about the fatal police shooting that cut a child’s life short, Turner made one thing clear: the family wants the truth, and they want the public to see the video evidence immediately.
“Accountability looks like transparency,” Turner said, calling for the immediate release of all surveillance and police footage. “It looks like releasing the video footage. It looks like resolving this matter in a way which will prevent an incident like this one from occurring in the future.”
The deadly encounter stems from a disputed chain of events. Initial reports linked the confrontation to a shoplifting incident. However, Turner noted that severe gaps remain in the official narrative, and the family presents a very different version of events.
“We are still not sure,” Turner said regarding the moments leading up to the gunfire. “There are claims of a shoplifting incident, and there are claims that there was not a shoplifting incident and the baby pull-ups were purchased.”
According to a statement released by the Mississippi Bureau of Investigation: “Officers attempted to stop the vehicle, but the driver drove in the direction of the officers, almost striking one. An officer then discharged their weapon and the vehicle fled the scene.”
The family strongly rejects that accusation. Turner insists the driver never tried to run over the officers.
To resolve these conflicting accounts, the family is targeting specific evidence. Turner is demanding that officials release all Walmart security footage, Senatobia city video, and police body camera recordings. He emphasized that these materials are vital to helping everyone determine exactly what happened.
The officer who shot Kohen has been placed on administrative leave, while the Mississippi Bureau of Investigation continues to lead the investigation. Because MBI has assumed control of the case, additional information is expected to come through the state agency as the investigation continues.
When asked about potential legal or civil rights actions, Turner kept all options open. “Obviously, everything is on the table,” Turner said. “We are making that decision now.”
As the state’s investigation moves forward, a grieving family is left holding onto the memories of a 1-year-old boy who loved the cartoon Bluey, while demanding the video evidence they say will reveal the truth about his final moments.
This is a developing story. The People’s Paper MS will continue to update this article as additional verified information becomes available.
Timeline of Events
June 14, 2026 – Fatal Shooting — Senatobia Police officers responded to a reported shoplifting call involving baby diapers at the local Walmart. Law enforcement approached a vehicle in the parking lot. During the encounter, an officer fired into the vehicle. The gunfire critically wounded the driver and fatally struck 1-year-old Kohen Wiley.
June 14, 2026 – Conflicting Accounts Emerge — According to the Mississippi Bureau of Investigation, officers attempted to stop the vehicle after the driver allegedly drove toward them, nearly striking an officer. The Wiley family disputes that account, maintaining the driver was attempting to leave the parking lot and never tried to run over officers. The driver continued to a hospital, where Kohen Wiley was pronounced dead.
June 16, 2026 – State Investigation Begins — The Mississippi Bureau of Investigation assumed control of the officer-involved shooting investigation. The involved officer was later placed on administrative leave pending the outcome of the investigation.
June 22, 2026 – Legal Team Announces Demands — National civil rights attorneys Ben Crump and Van Turner joined the Wiley family’s legal team and called for the immediate release of Walmart surveillance video, city surveillance footage, and police body camera recordings, saying the evidence is essential to determining exactly what happened.
June 26, 2026 – Community Rallies for Answers — Community members gathered in Senatobia to demand transparency and accountability as the investigation continued.
June 27, 2026 – Funeral Services Held — Family, friends, and community members gathered to celebrate the life of 1-year-old Kohen Wiley and lay him to rest.
June 28, 2026 – Call for Transparency Renewed — One day after Kohen’s burial, attorney Van Turner renewed the family’s call for the immediate release of surveillance and body camera footage, saying transparency is essential to uncovering the truth and helping prevent similar tragedies in the future.
