Mississippi police officer who fatally shot 1-year-old Kohen Wiley has resigned

A Mississippi police officer who fired the fatal shot that killed 1-year-old Kohen Wiley has resigned from the department, according to city officials speaking on Friday, following an incident that has drawn intense community scrutiny.

The resignation of Senatobia Police Department officer Hunter Foster comes just days after the office of Mississippi Attorney General Lynn Fitch issued a brief statement characterizing the fatal shooting as a justified use of force, a conclusion that remains contested by the victim's family and legal representation.

Incident Overview

The sequence of events began on June 14 when officers with the Senatobia Police Department responded to a report of a shoplifting at a local Walmart store. According to preliminary reports from the Mississippi Bureau of Investigation, responding officers arrived at the scene and observed two subjects along with a juvenile child fleeing from the store and entering a vehicle.

Investigators stated that officers attempted to stop the vehicle as it prepared to leave. The driver allegedly drove in the direction of the officers, almost striking one of them. In response to the vehicle's movement, an officer discharged a weapon. The vehicle subsequently fled the scene and drove to a local hospital, where 1-year-old Kohen Wiley was pronounced dead and another subject was listed with critical injuries.

Timeline of Events

1. June 14: Officers respond to a shoplifting report at a local Walmart in Senatobia, Mississippi, and encounter subjects fleeing to a vehicle.
2. June 14: An officer discharges a weapon after the vehicle allegedly drives toward law enforcement personnel.
3. June 14: The vehicle arrives at a local hospital, where 1-year-old Kohen Wiley is pronounced dead and another occupant sustains critical injuries.
4. October 23, 2026: City officials confirm that officer Hunter Foster has resigned from the Senatobia Police Department following an attorney general statement.

Suspect Information

The officer involved in the shooting has been identified as Hunter Foster, who previously served with the Senatobia Police Department. According to human resources clerk Jada Mayer, Foster turned in his badge and service weapon just days after the state attorney general's office released its determination regarding the use of force. Additional details concerning Foster's employment history or disciplinary record have not been officially released by the municipality.

Victim Information

The victim in the shooting has been identified as 1-year-old Kohen Wiley, who was Black. Kohen was a passenger in the vehicle during the encounter. Legal representation and family members have publicly disputed the official narrative of the events leading up to the child's death. The child's mother, identified by her attorney as Vellesiya Wiley, was also in the vehicle alongside a friend who was driving.

Police Response

Senatobia Police Department officers initially responded to the retail establishment following a reported shoplifting incident. Upon arrival, the uniformed personnel attempted to execute a vehicle stop as suspects and a juvenile attempted to leave the area, leading directly to the deployment of lethal force by an officer during the subsequent vehicular movement.

Investigation

The active investigation into the shooting is being handled by the Mississippi Bureau of Investigation, an independent state agency tasked with reviewing law enforcement use-of-force incidents. Oversight and legal reviews are coordinated through the office of Mississippi Attorney General Lynn Fitch, which evaluates investigative findings to determine whether criminal charges are warranted against participating officers.

Evidence Collected

• Ballistic evidence and official service weapon deployed by the responding officer.
• Surveillance footage from the local Walmart retail location capturing the initial flight of the subjects.
• Physical and forensic evidence recovered from the vehicle and the hospital where victims were treated.

Arrest Details

No criminal arrests of law enforcement personnel have been reported in connection with the fatal shooting. Officer Hunter Foster voluntarily surrendered his badge and service weapon to the Senatobia Police Department following the conclusion of the state attorney general's initial use-of-force review.

Charges Filed

• No criminal charges have been filed against the responding officer, as the Mississippi Attorney General's office previously issued a statement describing the shooting as a justified use of force.

Court Information

There is currently no active criminal docket or court case associated with the responding officer, as no charges were brought by prosecutors. Any future civil proceedings or independent grand jury reviews would be docketed through local or federal judicial systems depending on the nature of filings by the victim's legal representation.

Statements from Authorities

City and state officials have released limited information regarding the administrative status of the involved personnel. Jada Mayer, serving as Senatobia's human resources clerk, confirmed the employment change to news media outlets. "The mayor's office confirmed the resignation," Mayer stated. The Mississippi Bureau of Investigation outlined the initial response dynamics in a public statement, noting that the vehicle moved directly toward officers prior to the discharge of the weapon.

Public Safety Information

Community tensions following officer-involved incidents often require dedicated support systems for families and residents. Individuals or families seeking emotional support or crisis intervention resources can contact national assistance networks. For emotional distress related to community trauma, contact the Suicide and Crisis Lifeline by calling or texting 988. For domestic or community crisis support, confidential resources are available 24 hours a day.

What Happens Next

Because the state attorney general's office has characterized the shooting as justified and no criminal charges have been filed against the officer, the internal municipal review concludes with the officer's resignation. Civil rights attorneys representing the victim's family may pursue independent civil litigation in state or federal court to challenge the official findings and seek judicial review of police tactics.