Civil rights attorneys Ben Crump and Van Turner are calling for an independent autopsy in the case of one-year-old Kohen Wiley, who was fatally shot by police in Senatobia, Mississippi, earlier this month. The incident occurred when police responded to a shoplifting report at a local Walmart. According to the police, the vehicle in which Kohen was a passenger was accelerating toward officers, prompting one officer to fire a shot that killed the child.
At a press conference on Monday (June 22), Crump emphasized the family’s desire for an independent autopsy, expressing concerns about relying solely on the Mississippi Bureau of Investigation (MBI). Turner echoed these sentiments, questioning the lack of released video footage of the incident and stating, “We don’t have to wait six to nine months; they can release the body cam footage of the officers.”
Kohen’s mother, Vellesiya Wiley, who was holding him in the passenger seat, disputed the police’s account, claiming the car was not moving toward the officers. She emotionally recounted, “I watched my baby take his first breath, and I watched my baby take his last breath.” The officer involved has been placed on administrative leave, and the MBI has promised transparency in their investigation, though video footage will only be released after the investigation is complete.
Crump stated that the independent autopsy could provide crucial information about the bullet’s trajectory, potentially challenging the police narrative. Preliminary autopsy results are expected on June 30, three days after Kohen’s funeral. The family continues urge the release of all relevant footage to ensure accountability.
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