Officer Resigns After Fatal Shooting of Toddler in Walmart Car Park
State releases video footage of June incident where police use of force was deemed justified, sparking protests.
Sarah Connor
Sgt. Hunter Foster resigned from the Senatobia Police Department today.
Officers initially responded to an unrelated incident at the Walmart store. An alert then came for two women running from the store.
The shooting occurred after Kohen's mother, Vellesiya Wiley, and her friend, Latoya Ferrell, allegedly shoplifted and tried to flee security.
Vellesiya Wiley denies she and her friend stole nappies from the store. Officials have not charged Wiley or her friend with shoplifting.
Video footage shows the car reversing, striking a parked vehicle. It then accelerated forward as officers swarmed it with weapons drawn. Gunfire shattered the vehicle's front passenger window.
The officer had 'no choice' but to fire his weapon at the vehicle because it moved at him.
Martin Zummach stated the officer had 'no choice' but to fire his weapon at the vehicle because it moved at him. Ben Crump, however, claims the footage shows the fatal shot came from the side of the car, disputing that the officer faced imminent danger.
Vellesiya Wiley also claims the vehicle driven by her friend did not head toward the officers. The child's death led to protests and vigils across Mississippi.
Martin Zummach said, "We are very sad for the loss of life. But the outcome of the investigation was not only expected, but it was overdue."