The great-grandmother of Kohen Wiley, a 1-year-old boy fatally shot by a police officer, condemned the officer’s actions during a press interview. Carolyn Stokes, 72, questioned why the officer opened fire on a vehicle outside a Walmart in Senatobia, Mississippi, last Sunday.
Stokes expressed her dismay with the officer’s decision to fire his weapon over a suspected shoplifting incident. She suggested other approaches could have been taken. ‘It was reckless, it was unnecessary to be firing into a car,’ she told Newsweek. According to her, the situation did not require such drastic measures.
The officer involved has been placed on administrative leave while an investigation is underway. Stokes argued the officer acted impulsively, calling the behavior ‘reckless’ and ‘crazy.’ She believes justice will prevail in time, adding, ‘God has the last say.’
The Mississippi Bureau of Investigation released a statement regarding the incident. Officers reportedly confronted ‘two subjects and a juvenile’ as they fled from the Walmart to a vehicle. Attempts were made to stop the vehicle, but the driver allegedly moved towards the officers, nearly hitting one. An officer fired at this point, after which the vehicle left the scene. The group eventually reached a hospital, where the 1-year-old was pronounced dead, and one occupant was critically injured.
Inside the vehicle during the shooting were Kohen, his mother, and her friend. While Kohen’s mother was unharmed, the friend suffered serious injuries. Local advocate Marquell Bridges, leading the Building Bridges Coalition, stated that Kohen’s mother had committed no theft or crime.
Kohen’s grandfather, Carlos Haynes, shared his grief. He spoke of his anticipation in watching Kohen grow, lamenting, ‘Someone ended it all before it could even start.’
Bailey Martin, a Mississippi Department of Public Safety spokesperson, refrained from discussing details, citing the ongoing investigation.
As this tragic event unfolds, Senatobia police vow transparency. Their commitment to a thorough investigation was reiterated in a Facebook statement. They promise to update the public as verified facts emerge.