From Straight Arrow · · 1m 50s
Video complicates Mississippi’s police shooting account
Mississippi police officer’s justified shooting of toddler contradicted by video showing side shots.
In brief
Mississippi police officer’s justified shooting of toddler contradicted by video showing side shots. Mississippi’s attorney general said police shooting of 1-year-old was justified, but video shows officer firing from side after car passed. Originally reported by Straight Arrow.
Mississippi attorney general says shooting justified
Mississippi’s attorney general declared the police officer who killed a 1-year-old in June used force justified.
“The officer’s use of force was justified”
Video shows officer firing from side of car
Video released by Darkhorse Press shows officer firing three more shots after car passed him.
“The officer appears to then fire three more times while standing to its side”
Family’s independent autopsy reveals side impact
Kohen Wiley was struck from the side per independent autopsy, with mother holding him in front passenger seat.
“Kohen Wiley was struck from the side”
Family denies friend tried to hit officers
Vellesiya Wiley denied Latoya Ferrell tried to hit officers, saying they were all on the right side.
“They was all on the right side, and she was driving towards the left”
Officer previously accused of exaggerating threat
Hunter Foster previously falsely reported a car nearly ran over another officer in 2021.
“Foster falsely reported that a driver in a Waffle House parking lot nearly ran over another officer”
Officer on administrative leave
Hunter Foster has been on administrative leave since two days after the shooting.
“Foster has been on administrative leave since two days after the shooting”
Police chief fired over racist texts
Police chief Harold Vanderford was fired after reports revealed he used racist slurs in private texts.
“Vanderford was fired last month after reports revealed he routinely used racist slurs in private texts”
Attorney general’s office found 85 justified shootings
Mississippi attorney general said her office found force justified in all but four of 86 officer-involved shootings.
“Fitch said in September that the attorney general’s office had found force justified in all but four of the 86 officer-involved shootings”
No charges filed for women involved
Neither woman involved has been charged despite shoplifting accusation that initiated the stop.
“Officers confronted the women over a reported shoplifting, but neither has been charged”
Family scheduled to view full footage
Kohen Wiley’s family is scheduled to view full footage Thursday including five body cameras and Walmart surveillance.
“Kohen Wiley’s family is scheduled to view the full footage Thursday”
State delays public release of footage
Mississippi Department of Public Safety will fulfill public records requests only after family views footage.
“DPS told Straight Arrow it will fulfill public records requests for the footage after the family has seen it”
NAACP Legal Defense Fund condemns decision
NAACP Legal Defense Fund says Kohen Wiley’s family and community deserve answers.
“Kohen Wiley’s family and community ‘deserve answers’”
The headline
Mississippi’s attorney general said police shooting of 1-year-old was justified, but video shows officer firing from side after car passed.
