A Mississippi family is demanding answers after a 1-year-old was killed when police responding to a shoplifting call at a Walmart fired at their vehicle.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The shooting occurred Sunday afternoon in the store\u2019s parking lot in Senatobia, about 40 miles south of Memphis, Tennessee.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Kohen Wiley, 1, was in a vehicle with his mother and a family friend when he was fatally shot, said civil rights attorney Ben Crump. The friend was critically injured, he said.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cKohen Wiley was a baby. His mother, who has not been charged with any crime, says she was trying to communicate to officers that there was a baby in the car,\u201d Crump said in a statement Tuesday.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cThey fired anyway, leading to the death of an innocent 1-year-old. We intend to seek justice for baby Kohen and the life that was stolen from him.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The Mississippi Bureau of Investigation, which is investigating the shooting, said in a statement that when Senatobia police officers arrived, they \u201cencountered two subjects and a juvenile child fleeing from the store into a vehicle.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The state agency said police tried to stop the vehicle, \u201cbut the driver drove in the direction of the officers, almost striking one.\u201d An officer then discharged their weapon, firing at the vehicle, according to the MBI.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The driver then drove to a nearby hospital, where the child was pronounced dead, the bureau said.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
No law enforcement officers were seriously injured, the state agency said in its statement.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Senatobia police did not immediately respond to a request for comment Tuesday. The police department said Sunday on Facebook that it was \u201ccommitted to full transparency.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cAs the investigation progresses and facts are verified, we will share as much information as possible,\u201d the department said.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The Tate County Sheriff\u2019s Office was also on scene for the shooting. The office said in a news release that deputies had been responding to an unrelated incident when their assistance was requested.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cPlease keep the family of the deceased in your thoughts and prayers,\u201d the sheriff\u2019s office said.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Marquell Bridges, a community advocate who is helping the family, said Tuesday on Facebook that the boy\u2019s mother did not steal from Walmart \u201cand was not a witness to or accomplice to any crime.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cShe was skipping and playing with her child, Kohen, to the car moments earlier, not fleeing a theft,\u201d he said. \u201cWhat started as an ordinary day, playing with your baby and getting into a car, turned into the worst day of a mother\u2019s life and a tragedy this community will carry for years to come.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
He called on the police department to release body camera and store surveillance video.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Carlos Haynes, the child\u2019s grandfather, told The Associated Press that Kohen was a happy baby who had his life cut short.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cSomeone ended it all before it could even start,\u201d Haynes said.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The child\u2019s family did not immediately respond to NBC News\u2019 request for comment Tuesday.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Mississippi Department of Public Safety Commissioner Sean Tindell said at a news conference that body camera video and other possible evidence won\u2019t be released until after the state investigation is complete and presented to the attorney general\u2019s office for possible criminal charges.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
He didn\u2019t provide a timeline for that process and declined to discuss details of the shooting. He pleaded with people to remain patient so the five agents investigating the shooting can interview potential witnesses without fear of intimidation.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
In a statement Tuesday, the city of Senatobia said it was committed to cooperating fully with the MBI\u2019s independent investigation.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cWe understand that emotions are high and that many questions remain. We respectfully ask our community to avoid speculation and the spread of unverified information while the investigation is underway,\u201d the statement said.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
It acknowledged the child\u2019s death as \u201ca heartbreaking tragedy\u201d and extended condolences to the family. The city also asked for thoughts and prayers for law enforcement officers, first responders and anyone else affected by the situation.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cWe ask our community to continue responding with compassion, respect, and grace as we support all those affected during this difficult time,\u201d the statement said.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Walmart said it is working with law enforcement during the investigation.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cWe\u2019re saddened by what took place at our Senatobia, MS, store,\u201d a Walmart spokesperson said in a statement.<\/p>\n\n\n\n