Police officer behind death of 1-year-old Kohen Wiley resigns after being cleared of criminal wrongdoing: ‘Hardly a step toward accountability’
The family is seeking a federal investigation.
Sgt. Hunter Foster has resigned from the Senatobia Police Department following the fatal shooting of 1-year-old Kohen Wiley. Senatobia Mayor Greg Graves confirmed the resignation on October 23, 2026, per Complex. This development arrived only days after the Mississippi Attorney General’s office cleared Foster of criminal wrongdoing. The state investigation concluded his use of force was justified. The shooting occurred on June 14 in a Walmart parking lot.
The incident began when officers responded to a shoplifting call at the store. A report from the Mississippi Bureau of Investigation states that Walmart employees alerted officers to two women leaving the store. Vellesiya Wiley, the mother of the toddler, was seen holding Kohen as they ran toward their vehicle. Five officers approached the car with their weapons drawn. The vehicle reversed, struck a parked car, and then accelerated forward.
Body-worn camera footage shows Foster stepping toward the moving car. He placed his hands on the hood as he moved out of the way. He then fired his weapon into the passenger side of the vehicle. The bullet shattered the window where Kohen sat on his mother’s lap. Kohen died from the gunshot wound to his ribcage. The driver, identified as Latoya Ferrell, also sustained injuries to her arm and thigh.
Vellesiya Wiley has disputed the claim that the driver attempted to hit the officers
The family’s legal team, led by attorney Ben Crump, argues the footage proves the fatal shot came from the side of the car. They maintain that Foster was not in imminent danger. An independent autopsy commissioned by the family supports this conclusion.
Crump released a statement regarding the resignation. “Officer Foster’s resignation is hardly a step toward accountability, and it is certainly not justice,” Crump said. “Turning in a badge does not erase responsibility for taking a life, and it will not end our fight for justice for Kohen and his family.”
The family is now calling for a federal investigation into the shooting. They also want Foster to be decertified so he cannot work for other law enforcement agencies. As of October 23, spokesperson Alex Gibert of the Mississippi Department of Public Safety confirmed that Foster remained a certified officer.
Foster’s attorney, Martin Zummach, previously stated that his client had no choice but to fire. Zummach argued the vehicle was moving toward the officer. He expressed sadness for the loss of life but maintained the officer acted within his rights.
Neither Vellesiya Wiley nor the driver has been charged with a crime
District Attorney Jay Hale noted that prosecutors will review the case to decide if it should go before a grand jury. The situation remains tense for the community in Senatobia. Kohen would have turned two years old in early November. Protests have occurred throughout the city, with some demonstrators gathering outside City Hall and the Walmart location. Police reportedly used tear gas during one of these protests.
This is not the first time Foster has faced scrutiny. Records show he has worked for two other agencies in Mississippi since 2019. He was employed by the Southaven Police Department for two years and later worked for the DeSoto County Sheriff’s Office until October 2024.
According to the Associated Press, a federal lawsuit filed in 2021 accused Foster and 12 other Southaven officers of civil rights violations. The case involved the 2019 arrest of two Black men outside a Waffle House. The men alleged they were beaten while looking for lost keys. Foster allegedly filed a report claiming the men tried to run over an officer. The Southaven police department settled that case in 2022 for an undisclosed amount.
Further issues have plagued the Senatobia Police Department
In September, the city’s board of aldermen fired Police Chief Harold Vanderford. Reports alleged he used racist slurs in private text messages. Additionally, reports from July indicated Foster had faced prior allegations of misconduct and claims of using racially offensive remarks toward a coworker. One of these cases was dismissed, while the other ended in a confidential settlement.
The community continues to watch these developments closely. The public release of the body-camera footage has fueled demands for broader oversight. While the state attorney general has closed the criminal inquiry, the family and their legal team intend to keep pushing for federal involvement.
The resignation of one officer does not meet the demand for transparency regarding the policies that led to the shooting. It is a tragic time for Kohen’s family and those seeking answers about how a shoplifting call resulted in the death of a child. The legal battle continues as the family advocates for systemic change.
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