In what can only be regarded as an absolute tragedy, a one year old boy is dead and an adult critically wounded as a result of an officer involved shooting.
The June 14th incident took place in the parking lot of a Walmart in Tate County, Mississippi, about 40 miles south of Memphis, Tennessee. At approximately 2:00 PM officers of the Senatobia Police Department and Tate County Sheriff’s Department responded to a call of a potential shoplifter. Upon their arrival, reports allege the officers witnessed two women, the young boy’s mother and aunt whose names have not yet been released, carrying a package of diapers and one year old Kohen Wiley to their vehicle.
The events that led to the shooting are unclear as video evidence has yet to be released by the Mississippi Bureau of Investigation, but an official statement released by the Mississippi Department of Public Safety alleges that as officers made an attempt to stop the two women the vehicle veered towards one of the officers, nearly striking them, upon which time the officer drew and discharged their weapon.
Law enforcement officers responded to a shoplifting call at Walmart on US 51. Upon arrival, officers encountered two subjects and a juvenile child fleeing from the store into a vehicle. Officers attempted to stop the vehicle, but the driver drove in the direction of the officers, almost striking one. An officer then discharged their weapon and the vehicle fled the scene. The subjects arrived at a local hospital where one juvenile child in the vehicle was pronounced deceased, and another subject had critical injuries. No law enforcement officers received any serious physical injury.
The family has denied any shoplifting took place. Whether or not the vehicle actually attempted to hit the officer is also so far unverified.
One witness statement of an individual who elected not to be identified was released by WREG Channel 3 News, seemingly indicating that the officers fired toward the rear of the vehicle:
I seen the officers take off running, not in the car, I’m talking about on feet, and these are the Sheriffs and the police,” she said. “They’re running through the parking lot and I see the car take off you know, so in my head, I’m like, I know they’re not chasing the car, they don’t think they’re going to catch the car. Then I hear gunshots and I’m like, I know they’re not shooting at a car that’s leaving in a public, this is Walmart.
Video obtained by Fox 13 Memphis shows the immediate moments after the shooting as officers chase after the vehicle on foot.
The officer responsible for the fatal shooting has yet to be identified, although it has been reported they have been placed on leave.
Hellbound and Down 