Post by : Shweta
Officer and Interim Police Chief Resign
Two officials from the Senatobia Police Department in Mississippi have resigned following the fatal shooting of a 1-year-old Black child in June. Hunter Foster, the officer who fired the shot, and Angelica Maze, who served as interim police chief, have both left their positions, according to information cited by Reuters. Senatobia Mayor Greg Graves confirmed Foster’s resignation on Friday, October 23, 2026.
What Happened in the Walmart Parking Lot?
The incident took place in June near a Walmart in Senatobia, Mississippi. According to the Mississippi Bureau of Investigation, officers responded to a shoplifting report and encountered two adults and a young child leaving the store in a vehicle. Officers attempted to stop the vehicle, but the driver reportedly moved in their direction. An officer then fired a weapon, and the vehicle left the scene.
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One-Year-Old Kohen Wiley Died
The child, identified as Kohen Wiley, died after Foster fired at the moving vehicle. The shooting prompted calls for accountability from civil rights advocates and raised questions about the use of force during a response to an alleged shoplifting incident. Authorities alleged that the child’s mother and her friend had taken diapers from the store, but the report said neither woman had been charged.
Mississippi Attorney General Clears Officer of Criminal Wrongdoing
Mississippi Attorney General Lynn Fitch said earlier in the week that the use of force was justified and cleared Foster of criminal wrongdoing. The child’s family has disputed the justification for the shooting. Foster’s lawyer, Martin Zummach, told NBC News that the officer resigned for the good of the city and police department and to allow the community to begin healing.
Family Seeks Further Accountability
Ben Crump, a prominent civil rights attorney representing the child’s family, said the family was calling for an investigation by the US Department of Justice. He stressed that the officer’s resignation should not mark the end of efforts to establish accountability. The case continues to draw attention to the circumstances of the shooting and the wider questions surrounding police use of force.
Interim Chief Also Steps Down
Angelica Maze, who was serving as interim chief of the Senatobia Police Department, also resigned, according to a resignation letter reported by local media. The report did not provide further details about the reasons for her departure. Foster’s resignation was confirmed by the mayor, who did not specify whether the officer was asked to resign or made the decision independently.
Former Police Chief Was Fired in September
The resignations follow an earlier controversy involving the department. Former Senatobia Police Chief Harold Vanderford was fired in September after media reports described racist slurs against Black people in text messages attributed to him. The separate developments have intensified scrutiny of the department. The shooting investigation, the attorney general’s decision and the family’s request for a federal investigation remain important parts of the public discussion surrounding the case.
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