--- title: "Mississippi AG: Officer justified in Kohen Wiley shooting" publication: "MediaBias News" url: "https://mediabias.news/politics/mississippi-ag-officer-justified-in-kohen-wiley-shooting" api: "https://mediabias.news/api/v1/stories/mississippi-ag-officer-justified-in-kohen-wiley-shooting" markdown: "https://mediabias.news/politics/mississippi-ag-officer-justified-in-kohen-wiley-shooting.md" audio: "https://mediabias.news/api/audio/mississippi-ag-officer-justified-in-kohen-wiley-shooting" category: "Politics" area: "United States" published: "2026-10-19T19:25:28.384Z" source_reported: "2026-10-19T18:43:23.000Z" updated: "2026-10-19T19:25:28.384Z" trust_score: 42 critic_score: 61 hype_score: 41 assessment_type: "coverage-and-source-reporting-analysis" fact_check_status: "not-performed" coverage_measured: "2026-10-19T19:15:22.867842+00:00" --- # Mississippi AG: Officer justified in Kohen Wiley shooting *State investigation concludes use of force was lawful in death of 1-year-old boy* **Scores for the source reporting** (0-100, assessing the original journalism this article was written from, not this write-up): - Trust 42 of 100, higher is better. The central claim is attributed to the Mississippi Attorney General's office, and the full report names the attorney general and the Mississippi Bureau of Investigation. - Craft 61 of 100, higher is better. The full report quotes the attorney general, the victim's mother, and the family's attorney, and explains the context of previous incidents. - Hype 41 of 100, lower is better. The headline promises a justified use of force, which is supported by the article's content. Scored by MediaBias News; method at https://mediabias.news/methodology. **The short version** - Mississippi's attorney general has concluded that a Senatobia police officer was justified in the use of force during a June shooting that killed 1-year-old Kohen Wiley. - The shooting occurred when officers responded to a shoplifting call at a Walmart and saw Kohen's mother, Vellesiya Wiley, leaving with the child. - According to the Mississippi Bureau of Investigation, officers attempted to stop the vehicle, but it drove toward law enforcement, prompting an officer to fire into the car. - Vellesiya Wiley and her attorney dispute the police account, with an independent autopsy suggesting Kohen was shot from the side, not the front. Mississippi's attorney general has stated that a Senatobia police officer acted justifiably in the June shooting death of 1-year-old Kohen Wiley. The conclusion follows an investigation into the incident, which occurred as officers responded to a shoplifting call at a local Walmart. Officers observed Vellesiya Wiley, Kohen's mother, leaving the store with her son. Police reports indicate diapers and baby clothes were allegedly stolen. According to a statement from the Mississippi Bureau of Investigation, officers attempted to stop the vehicle carrying Vellesiya Wiley and her friend, who was driving. The bureau stated the car drove toward law enforcement, which prompted an officer to fire into the vehicle, striking Kohen and the friend. ## Conflicting accounts of the shooting Vellesiya Wiley and her attorney, Ben Crump, dispute the police account of the events. Crump stated that an independent autopsy indicated Kohen was shot from the side of the car, not the front, contradicting the claim that the vehicle was heading toward officers. Wiley has denied that she or her friend stole anything. ## What the coverage left out None of the left-rated digests mention the specific details of the previous incidents in Senatobia that have eroded trust between the police department and the city's Black citizens, beyond stating that such incidents have occurred. None of the centre-rated digests mention the specific details of the previous incidents in Senatobia that have eroded trust between the police department and the city's Black citizens, beyond stating that such incidents have occurred. None of the right-rated digests mention previous incidents in Senatobia that have eroded trust between the police department and the city's Black citizens. ## Who covered it Shares of the 54 covering outlets with a published leaning rating: - Left: 48% (26) - Centre: 45% (24) - Right: 7% (4) 3 of 57 covering outlets carried no usable leaning rating and were excluded from those percentages. Coverage measured 2026-10-19T19:15:22.867842+00:00. **Coverage watch:** developing. Checked 3 times; 0 checks found a material change. Most recently checked 2026-10-19T20:00:15.861Z. ## How the sides framed it ### Left - Ten left-rated reports led on the attorney general's decision that the officer was justified in the shooting. Six reports noted that the child killed was Black and the officer was white. Six reports mentioned the alleged stolen items were diapers and baby clothes. Six reports included Vellesiya Wiley's and Ben Crump's dispute of the police account, with three specifically mentioning the independent autopsy indicated Kohen was shot from the side. Five reports mentioned previous incidents in Senatobia that have eroded trust between the police department and the city's Black citizens. Two reports mentioned a former police chief's alleged use of racist slurs. ### Centre - Eleven centre-rated reports led on the attorney general's conclusion that the officer's use of force was justified. Seven reports stated the shooting occurred during a shoplifting call at Walmart. Six reports mentioned the child killed was 1-year-old Kohen Wiley. Six reports included the Mississippi Bureau of Investigation's account that the car drove toward law enforcement, prompting the officer to fire. Four reports mentioned Vellesiya Wiley and her attorney Ben Crump dispute the police account. Two reports mentioned previous incidents that have eroded trust between the police and the city's Black citizens. ### Right - All four right-rated reports led on the Mississippi attorney general's statement that the officer was justified in the use of force. Three reports mentioned the shooting occurred during a shoplifting call at a local Walmart. Two reports stated the child killed was 1-year-old Kohen Wiley. Two reports included the Mississippi Bureau of Investigation's account that the car drove toward law enforcement, prompting the officer to fire. One report mentioned Vellesiya Wiley and her attorney Ben Crump dispute the police account. **Provisional coverage gap:** right. The watch is not closed, so this is not yet a settled blindspot finding. ## Factuality profile of the covering outlets These are published factuality ratings of the outlets, not a verdict on whether this story or its claims are true. - mixed: 1 - high: 29 - unknown: 3 - veryHigh: 24 ## Verification scope This page compares coverage and scores the source reporting. It is not a ClaimReview verdict on whether the underlying event or claim is true. ## Original reporting this was written from - [The Independent](https://independent.co.uk/news/world/americas/kohen-wiley-shooting-death-mississippi-police-walmart-b3069482.html) — Officer who shot and killed 1-year-old Black boy will face no criminal charges - [The News-Gazette](https://news-gazette.com/news/nation-world/mississippi-attorney-general-says-use-of-force-was-justified-in-death-of-1-year-old/article_e8b49ac9-7fa7-57ff-a91f-b23a6d788399.html) — Mississippi attorney general says use of force was justified in death of 1-year-old Kohen Wiley - [Washington Times](https://washingtontimes.com/news/2026/oct/19/mississippi-attorney-general-says-use-force-justified-death-1-year) — Mississippi attorney general says use of force was justified in death of 1-year-old Kohen Wiley - [SuperTalk Mississippi](https://supertalk.fm/mississippi-ag-officer-involved-shooting-that-killed-1-year-old-kohen-wiley-was-justified) — Mississippi AG: Officer-involved shooting that killed 1-year-old Kohen Wiley was justified - [Atlanta Black Star](https://atlantablackstar.com/2026/10/19/ag-says-white-cop-was-justified-in-killing-black-baby) — Mississippi Attorney General's Office Says White Cop Was Justified in Killing 1-Year-Old Black Baby Over Alleged Stolen Box of Diapers - [Mississippi Today](https://mississippitoday.org/2026/10/19/breaking-kohen-wiley-death-senatobia-police-officer-use-of-force-attorney-general) — Attorney General clears Senatobia police officer who shot, killed Kohen Wiley - [WLTX](https://wltx.com/article/news/nation-world/kohen-wiley-death-investigation-officer-use-of-force-justified-mississippi/507-b453865c-b0a5-482d-915a-be86a5f903ba) — Officer who shot into car and killed 1-year-old boy justified in use of force, Mississippi attorney general says - [Krem2 News](https://krem.com/article/news/nation-world/kohen-wiley-death-investigation-officer-use-of-force-justified-mississippi/507-b453865c-b0a5-482d-915a-be86a5f903ba) — Officer who shot into car and killed 1-year-old boy justified in use of force, Mississippi attorney general says - [Rocky Mountain Outlook](https://rmoutlook.com/world-news/mississippi-attorney-general-says-use-of-force-was-justified-in-death-of-1-year-old-kohen-wiley-12910882) — Mississippi attorney general says use of force was justified in death of 1-year-old Kohen Wiley - [Coast Reporter](https://coastreporter.net/world-news/mississippi-attorney-general-says-use-of-force-was-justified-in-death-of-1-year-old-kohen-wiley-12910888) — Mississippi attorney general says use of force was justified in death of 1-year-old Kohen Wiley - [SooToday.com](https://sootoday.com/world-news/mississippi-attorney-general-says-use-of-force-was-justified-in-death-of-1-year-old-kohen-wiley-12910882) — Mississippi attorney general says use of force was justified in death of 1-year-old Kohen Wiley - [Airdrie City View](https://airdriecityview.com/world-news/mississippi-attorney-general-says-use-of-force-was-justified-in-death-of-1-year-old-kohen-wiley-12910882) — Mississippi attorney general says use of force was justified in death of 1-year-old Kohen Wiley - [Orillia Matters](https://orilliamatters.com/world-news/mississippi-attorney-general-says-use-of-force-was-justified-in-death-of-1-year-old-kohen-wiley-12910882) — Mississippi attorney general says use of force was justified in death of 1-year-old Kohen Wiley - [Midland Today](https://midlandtoday.ca/world-news/mississippi-attorney-general-says-use-of-force-was-justified-in-death-of-1-year-old-kohen-wiley-12910882) — Mississippi attorney general says use of force was justified in death of 1-year-old Kohen Wiley - [Thorold Today](https://thoroldtoday.ca/world-news/mississippi-attorney-general-says-use-of-force-was-justified-in-death-of-1-year-old-kohen-wiley-12910882) — Mississippi attorney general says use of force was justified in death of 1-year-old Kohen Wiley - [Elora Fergus Today](https://elorafergustoday.com/world-news/mississippi-attorney-general-says-use-of-force-was-justified-in-death-of-1-year-old-kohen-wiley-12910882) — Mississippi attorney general says use of force was justified in death of 1-year-old Kohen Wiley - [Battlefords NOW](https://battlefordsnow.com/2026/10/19/mississippi-attorney-general-says-use-of-force-was-justified-in-death-of-1-year-old-kohen-wiley) — Mississippi attorney general says use of force was justified in death of 1-year-old Kohen Wiley - [Bowen Island Undercurrent](https://bowenislandundercurrent.com/world-news/mississippi-attorney-general-says-use-of-force-was-justified-in-death-of-1-year-old-kohen-wiley-12910888) — Mississippi attorney general says use of force was justified in death of 1-year-old Kohen Wiley - [Sudbury](https://sudbury.com/world-news/mississippi-attorney-general-says-use-of-force-was-justified-in-death-of-1-year-old-kohen-wiley-12910882) — Mississippi attorney general says use of force was justified in death of 1-year-old Kohen Wiley - [Bay Today](https://baytoday.ca/world-news/mississippi-attorney-general-says-use-of-force-was-justified-in-death-of-1-year-old-kohen-wiley-12910882) — Mississippi attorney general says use of force was justified in death of 1-year-old Kohen Wiley - [ElliotLakeToday.com](https://elliotlaketoday.com/world-news/mississippi-attorney-general-says-use-of-force-was-justified-in-death-of-1-year-old-kohen-wiley-12910882) — Mississippi attorney general says use of force was justified in death of 1-year-old Kohen Wiley - [The NOTL Local](https://notllocal.com/world-news/mississippi-attorney-general-says-use-of-force-was-justified-in-death-of-1-year-old-kohen-wiley-12910882) — Mississippi attorney general says use of force was justified in death of 1-year-old Kohen Wiley - [StratfordToday.ca](https://stratfordtoday.ca/world-news/mississippi-attorney-general-says-use-of-force-was-justified-in-death-of-1-year-old-kohen-wiley-12910882) — Mississippi attorney general says use of force was justified in death of 1-year-old Kohen Wiley - [Bradford Today](https://bradfordtoday.ca/world-news/mississippi-attorney-general-says-use-of-force-was-justified-in-death-of-1-year-old-kohen-wiley-12910882) — Mississippi attorney general says use of force was justified in death of 1-year-old Kohen Wiley - [Timmins Today](https://timminstoday.com/world-news/mississippi-attorney-general-says-use-of-force-was-justified-in-death-of-1-year-old-kohen-wiley-12910882) — Mississippi attorney general says use of force was justified in death of 1-year-old Kohen Wiley - [thealbertan.com](https://thealbertan.com/world-news/mississippi-attorney-general-says-use-of-force-was-justified-in-death-of-1-year-old-kohen-wiley-12910882) — Mississippi attorney general says use of force was justified in death of 1-year-old Kohen Wiley - [burlingtontoday.com](https://burlingtontoday.com/world-news/mississippi-attorney-general-says-use-of-force-was-justified-in-death-of-1-year-old-kohen-wiley-12910882) — Mississippi attorney general says use of force was justified in death of 1-year-old Kohen Wiley - [flamboroughtoday.com](https://flamboroughtoday.com/world-news/mississippi-attorney-general-says-use-of-force-was-justified-in-death-of-1-year-old-kohen-wiley-12910882) — Mississippi attorney general says use of force was justified in death of 1-year-old Kohen Wiley - [WFMZ](https://wfmz.com/news/ap/ap-national/mississippi-attorney-general-says-use-of-force-was-justified-in-death-of-1-year-old-kohen-wiley/article_722b608d-da8d-57ad-87f6-00e06a522855.html) — Mississippi attorney general says use of force was justified in death of 1-year-old Kohen Wiley - [Hometown News LP](https://hngnews.com/nation_world/mississippi-attorney-general-says-use-of-force-was-justified-in-death-of-1-year-old/article_b1033d53-b0e3-5a17-9ff8-1aa19aaa29bf.html) — Mississippi attorney general says use of force was justified in death of 1-year-old Kohen Wiley - [goSkagit](https://goskagit.com/news/nation/mississippi-attorney-general-says-use-of-force-was-justified-in-death-of-1-year-old/article_7589aae9-1d16-5782-a1f2-33d0d6a61483.html) — Mississippi attorney general says use of force was justified in death of 1-year-old Kohen Wiley - [The Record](https://troyrecord.com/2026/10/19/child-shot-no-charges) — Mississippi attorney general says use of force was justified in death of 1-year-old Kohen Wiley - [Live5News](https://live5news.com/2026/10/19/officers-use-force-was-justified-shooting-death-1-year-old-kohen-wiley-walmart-ag-says) — Officer’s use of force was justified in shooting death of 1-year-old Kohen Wiley at a Walmart, AG says - [WMBF News](https://wmbfnews.com/2026/10/19/officers-use-force-was-justified-shooting-death-1-year-old-kohen-wiley-walmart-ag-says) — Officer’s use of force was justified in shooting death of 1-year-old Kohen Wiley at a Walmart, AG says - [WOWT](https://wowt.com/2026/10/19/officers-use-force-was-justified-shooting-death-1-year-old-kohen-wiley-walmart-ag-says) — Officer’s use of force was justified in shooting death of 1-year-old Kohen Wiley at a Walmart, AG says - [meadowlakeNOW](https://meadowlakenow.com/2026/10/19/mississippi-attorney-general-says-use-of-force-was-justified-in-death-of-1-year-old-kohen-wiley) — Mississippi attorney general says use of force was justified in death of 1-year-old Kohen Wiley - [CFJC Today Kamloops](https://cfjctoday.com/2026/10/19/mississippi-attorney-general-says-use-of-force-was-justified-in-death-of-1-year-old-kohen-wiley) — Mississippi attorney general says use of force was justified in death of 1-year-old Kohen Wiley - [Ckpg Today](https://ckpgtoday.ca/2026/10/19/mississippi-attorney-general-says-use-of-force-was-justified-in-death-of-1-year-old-kohen-wiley) — Mississippi attorney general says use of force was justified in death of 1-year-old Kohen Wiley - [Washington Top News](https://wtop.com/national/2026/10/mississippi-attorney-general-says-officer-who-shot-into-car-killing-1-year-old-boy-was-justified-in-use-of-force) — Mississippi attorney general says use of force was justified in death of 1-year-old Kohen Wiley – WTOP News - [WBAL](https://wbal.com/mississippi-attorney-general-says-officer-who-shot-into-car-killing-1-year-old-boy-was-justified-in-use-of-force) — Mississippi attorney general says use of force was justified in death - [The Commercial Appeal](https://commercialappeal.com/story/news/local/2026/10/19/mississippi-baby-killed-by-police-kohen-wiley-force-justified/92332274007) — Force justified in shooting death of Mississippi baby, state AG finds - [WV News](https://wvnews.com/newsfeed/us/mississippi-attorney-general-says-officer-who-shot-into-car-killing-1-year-old-boy-was/article_6d3a2250-82c9-5cf0-9e23-1e841b4bea51.html) — Mississippi attorney general says officer who shot into car, killing 1-year-old boy, was justified in use of force - [Mankato Free Press](https://mankatofreepress.com/news/state_national_news/mississippi-attorney-general-says-officer-who-shot-into-car-killing-1-year-old-boy-was/article_c6f28a4a-6300-5c01-bda4-b24cd32956ce.html) — Mississippi attorney general says officer who shot into car, killing 1-year-old boy, was justified in use of force - [WAPT](https://wapt.com/article/police-shooting-that-killed-1-year-old-senatobia-child-ruled-justified/74182398) — Police shooting that killed 1-year-old Senatobia child ruled justified - [Mississippi Free Press](https://mississippifreepress.org/police-shooting-of-1-year-old-kohen-wiley-was-justified-mississippi-attorney-general-says) — Kohen Wiley Shooting ‘Was Justified,’ Mississippi AG Says - [The Clarion Ledger](https://clarionledger.com/story/news/2026/10/19/mississippi-ag-clears-officer-in-kohen-wiley-baby-death-seantobia-police-shooting/92332326007) — Kohen Wiley police shooting: Mississippi AG clears officer - [Darkhorse Press](https://darkhorsepressnow.com/news/2026-10-19/ags-office-officers-use-of-force-in-senatobia-walmart-was-justified) — AG’s Office: Officer’s use of force in Senatobia Walmart was justified - [The Oxford Eagle](https://oxfordeagle.com/2026/10/19/ag-rules-use-of-force-justified-in-shooting-that-killed-toddler-kohen) — AG rules use of force justified in shooting that killed toddler Kohen - [Action News 5](https://actionnews5.com/2026/10/19/officers-use-force-was-justified-shooting-death-1-year-old-kohen-wiley-ag-says) — Officer’s use of force was justified in shooting death of 1-year-old Kohen Wiley, AG says - [WJTV](https://wjtv.com/news/state/ags-office-says-use-of-force-was-justified-in-shooting-that-led-to-death-of-kohen-wiley) — AG's Office says 'use of force was justified' in shooting that led to death of Kohen Wiley - [WDAM 7](https://wdam.com/2026/10/19/ags-office-use-force-deadly-officer-involved-shooting-1-year-old-kohen-wiley-justified) — AG’s Office: Use of force in deadly officer-involved shooting of 1-year-old Kohen Wiley justified - [WLBT 3](https://wlbt.com/2026/10/19/ags-office-deadly-officer-involved-shooting-1-year-old-kohen-wiley-justified) — AG’s Office: Use of force in deadly officer-involved shooting of 1-year-old Kohen Wiley justified - [The Record](https://therecord.com/news/world/united-states/mississippi-attorney-general-says-use-of-force-was-justified-in-death-of-1-year-old-kohen-wiley/article_da082b3b-d788-570f-981d-0b286d3c6b7e.html) — Mississippi attorney general says use of force was justified in death of 1-year-old Kohen Wiley - [NiagaraFallsReview.ca](https://niagarafallsreview.ca/news/world/united-states/mississippi-attorney-general-says-use-of-force-was-justified-in-death-of-1-year-old-kohen-wiley/article_79480c5e-bcc6-5f80-aceb-98a9fee60fce.html) — Mississippi attorney general says use of force was justified in death of 1-year-old Kohen Wiley - [Winnipeg Free Press](https://winnipegfreepress.com/world/2026/10/19/mississippi-attorney-general-says-use-of-force-was-justified-in-death-of-1-year-old-kohen-wiley) — Mississippi attorney general says use of force was justified in death of 1-year-old Kohen Wiley - [Owensboro Messenger-Inquirer](https://messenger-inquirer.com/ap/ap_national_news/mississippi-attorney-general-says-officer-who-shot-into-car-killing-1-year-old-boy-was/article_d3a7994a-ecc6-5ced-9720-7f5176caa967.html) — Mississippi attorney general says officer who shot into car, killing 1-year-old boy, was justified in use of force - [Durango Herald](https://durangoherald.com/articles/associated-press/mississippi-attorney-general-says-use-of-force-was-justified-in-death-of-1-year-old-kohen-wiley) — Mississippi attorney general says use of force was justified in death of 1-year-old Kohen Wiley ## Questions **Why did the Mississippi attorney general say the officer was justified?** The Mississippi attorney general's office concluded its investigation and stated that a Senatobia police officer was justified in using force. This followed a determination that the vehicle carrying 1-year-old Kohen Wiley's mother drove toward law enforcement officers who were attempting to stop them during a shoplifting call response. **What do the family and their attorney say about the shooting?** Vellesiya Wiley, the mother of Kohen Wiley, and her attorney, Ben Crump, dispute the police account. Crump has stated that an independent autopsy indicated Kohen was shot from the side of the car, not the front, which contradicts the police claim that the car was heading toward officers. **What led to the shooting incident?** Officers responded to a shoplifting call at a local Walmart and saw Vellesiya Wiley, Kohen's mother, leaving the store with her son. Police reports indicate diapers and baby clothes were allegedly stolen. As officers attempted to stop the vehicle, it drove toward law enforcement, according to the Mississippi Bureau of Investigation. --- MediaBias News — https://mediabias.news. Reproduced from https://mediabias.news/politics/mississippi-ag-officer-justified-in-kohen-wiley-shooting. Please cite as: MediaBias News, "Mississippi AG: Officer justified in Kohen Wiley shooting", https://mediabias.news/politics/mississippi-ag-officer-justified-in-kohen-wiley-shooting