The Kohen Wiley Case: Transparency, Public Records, and a Mississippi Family’s Right to Answers

Nearly a month after 1-year-old Kohen Wiley was killed in a police shooting outside a Senatobia Walmart, his family is still waiting for answers — and, according to Mississippi Today, state and local agencies have refused repeated requests to release records about what happened. This follow-up focuses on that fight over transparency and what Mississippi’s public-records law actually says.

(For background on the incident itself and the wrongful-death and civil-rights questions it raises, see our earlier article on the Senatobia shooting. The facts remain disputed and under investigation; nothing here is a conclusion about any individual.)

What has happened since June 14

According to reporting by Mississippi Today and statements from the family, Kohen was in a vehicle with his 20-year-old mother and her friend when they were accused of shoplifting a box of diapers on June 14, 2026. Senatobia police and Tate County deputies responded, and during the encounter an officer fired into the vehicle as it drove away, killing Kohen. The Mississippi Department of Public Safety is investigating.

In the weeks since, the family has publicly pressed for answers. Mississippi Today reported that at a late-June press conference, attorneys for the family said their requests for body-camera footage, dashboard-camera footage, and Walmart surveillance video had been denied, with authorities saying evidence would be shared only after the investigation concludes — a process that could take months. A community march was held in Senatobia on June 26.

What Mississippi law says about incident reports

Mississippi Today reported that when its journalist asked the Senatobia Police Department for the incident report — a basic document agencies routinely create — the request was refused on the grounds of an “ongoing investigation.”

That distinction matters under Mississippi law. The Mississippi Public Records Act (Miss. Code Ann. § 25-61-1 et seq.) treats records differently depending on type:

• Investigative reports can generally be withheld while a case is active (Miss. Code Ann. § 25-61-12).
• Law-enforcement incident reports, however, are specifically not exempt. The Act states that nothing in it “shall be construed to exempt from public disclosure a law enforcement incident report.” In other words, the basic incident report is generally a public record even during an active investigation.

This is why transparency advocates and journalists argue that, at a minimum, the incident report should already be available to the public and the family.

Why records and video matter so much

In cases involving police use of force, body-camera, dashboard-camera, and surveillance video are often the most important evidence — and footage can be lost, overwritten, or degraded over time. Families and their attorneys frequently act quickly to:

• send formal preservation (“spoliation”) letters demanding that all footage and evidence be retained,
• file public-records requests for the disclosable documents, and
• pursue release of video through the courts if necessary.

Acting early also protects legal deadlines. Claims against government entities in Mississippi are governed by the Mississippi Tort Claims Act, which generally requires a formal notice of claim within one year — much shorter than the deadline for ordinary claims — and any federal civil-rights claim under 42 U.S.C. § 1983 has its own rules.

How Van Every Law can help

Van Every Law helps Mississippi families who are struggling to get answers after a tragedy involving law enforcement. If your family is facing a wall of silence, we can help you demand the preservation and release of video and records, understand your rights, and protect critical deadlines while an investigation runs its course. Consultations are free and confidential.

Frequently asked questions

Are police incident reports public in Mississippi?
Generally yes. The Mississippi Public Records Act specifically says a law-enforcement incident report is not exempt from disclosure, even during an active investigation — although agencies may withhold separate “investigative reports.”

How can a family make sure video isn’t lost?
An attorney can send a preservation letter demanding that body-camera, dashboard-camera, and surveillance footage be retained, and can file public-records requests and, if necessary, go to court to seek release.

How long does a family have to take legal action?
It varies. Claims against government entities in Mississippi generally require notice within one year under the Tort Claims Act, and federal civil-rights claims have their own deadlines — so it is important to talk to a lawyer promptly.

Original reporting: mississippitoday.org.