Body-cam footage released in fatal police shooting of 1-year-old Kohen Wiley in Mississippi

Police body-camera video from the June 14 Walmart parking lot shooting that killed 1-year-old Kohen Wiley has been released. Mississippi AG found the use of force "justified"; family and civil rights attorney Ben Crump disagree.

Mississippi releases body-cam footage in Walmart parking lot death of toddler Kohen Wiley

The Mississippi Bureau of Investigation (MBI) released body-camera footage on Thursday showing the officer-involved shooting that killed 1-year-old Kohen Wiley in a Walmart parking lot in Senatobia on 14 June, abcnews.com reports.

The footage was made public days after the Mississippi Attorney General's Office concluded on Monday that the use of force by the Senatobia Police Department was "justified." The probe was conducted by the MBI.

Members of Kohen's family, who viewed the footage privately ahead of its formal release, held a press conference on Thursday criticising the state attorney general's decision not to press charges against the officers involved.

Civil rights attorney Ben Crump, who represents the family, said the footage reinforced the family's belief that the officer's actions were "excessive" and "not justified."

"After reviewing that footage, we have made these observations that this was excessive from the very start," Crump said. "We are just troubled in our souls that a 1-year-old little angel was taken from us in such a way as this. America, our society must have more empathy for human life. Baby Kohen's life mattered."

Crump also said the two adults accused of shoplifting were Kohen's mother, Vellesiya Wiley, and a friend. Neither has been charged. According to Crump, the alleged theft involved diapers — a misdemeanour offence.

"He was killed over an allegation of shoplifting of diapers, and even if someone is charged, shoplifting diapers is a misdemeanour," Crump said. "It doesn't warrant the death penalty. It certainly doesn't warrant the death of 1-year-old baby Kohen."

Crump called for a federal investigation and argued that the officer could have moved out of the way rather than firing.

Kohen's maternal grandmother, Veronica Roberson, said she was "disgusted" after watching the footage. "I watched the video this morning that disgusted me," she said. "I feel like we have been done wrong. I watched an officer come from the inside of Walmart, not knowing what's going on, and run out with guns drawn. There's no justification for that."

Mississippi Governor Tate Reeves defended the investigation during a press conference on Wednesday. Reeves said that while he had not personally viewed the body-camera video, he has "trust" in the MBI and the attorney general's office. He described the death as "absolutely tragic" but added that investigators found it was "very clear" that "the driver of the vehicle attempted to run over the policeman."

The MBI released a redacted report alongside the footage on Thursday. According to the report, officers responding to a shoplifting call at the Senatobia Walmart encountered two adults allegedly fleeing the store with a child. As officers attempted to stop the vehicle, one officer opened fire as the driver "sped toward the officers." The child was killed and an adult was critically injured.

The footage released by MBI includes multiple vantage points: video from several body-worn police cameras and Walmart surveillance footage.

In the surveillance footage, a man appearing to work at Walmart is seen confronting two women — one holding a baby — as they exited the store. The women walk past him and run toward a vehicle in the parking lot. In the body-camera footage, officers race out of the store and into the parking lot.

The vehicle is seen reversing from its parking spot, with one officer appearing to have his hand on the car as he backs away. The vehicle then appears to reverse into a parked car before driving toward the officers, who had their weapons drawn. The officer who fired appears to move out of the way as the car approaches.

One officer fired multiple shots — first toward the front of the vehicle, then another shot that appeared to strike the front passenger side, shattering the window. The car then hit a parked vehicle, briefly stopped, and drove off as officers pursued it on foot.

The officer who fired was placed on administrative leave pending the investigation. As of Thursday, Senatobia police had not responded to a request for comment on his current employment status. A spokesperson for the department also declined to comment on the attorney general's finding that the shooting was "justified."

Senatobia interim police chief Angelica Maze thanked the public for its patience in a statement issued on Tuesday. "We understand that people may have questions, concerns, and strong emotions, and we respect everyone's right to express their views peacefully," Maze said. "Open communication and cooperation between residents and law enforcement are essential as we move forward together."

Source: Google News MT — Crime (en)