A Senatobia, Mississippi, police officer who shot and killed 1-year-old Kohen Wiley during a June 14 encounter at a Walmart parking lot has resigned. Mayor Greg Graves confirmed Friday, Oct. 23, 2026, that Sgt. Hunter Foster stepped down from the department.
The resignation followed an announcement on Monday, Oct. 19, 2026, by the Mississippi Attorney General’s office that Foster’s use of force was justified. The shooting took place as law enforcement responded to an alleged shoplifting call involving two women, identified as Kohen’s mother, Vellesiya Wiley, and a friend. Police alleged the women stole diapers and baby clothes, though Wiley denied the claim and no charges have been filed against the occupants of the vehicle.
Body camera and security footage released Thursday, Oct. 22, 2026, shows the vehicle backing into a parked car as officers approached with guns drawn. The car then moved forward, and Foster, who was positioned in front of the vehicle, moved out of the way while placing a hand on the hood. Foster fired his weapon, shattering the front passenger window where Kohen was sitting on his mother's lap. The child died from a shot to his ribcage, and the driver was wounded in the arm and thigh. Foster’s attorney, Martin Zummach, stated his client had "no choice" because the driver was attempting to kill the officers.
Civil rights attorney Ben Crump, representing the family, has called on the U.S. Department of Justice to open an investigation into the incident. The family's legal team is challenging the state's findings, citing an independent autopsy they say proves the shots came from the side of the car.
District Attorney Jay Hale stated his office will review the case to decide on any potential future grand jury presentations regarding the driver of the vehicle. The Mississippi Attorney General’s office concluded the use of force was justified under state law, though experts cited in reports noted that firing at a vehicle is generally discouraged. The incident follows other recent friction between the department and residents, including the firing of a previous chief for alleged racist text messages.