Family continues demanding permanent decertification and a federal investigation after Foster leaves the Senatobia Police Department
SENATOBIA, Miss. (Oct. 23, 2026) –– Nationally renowned civil rights and personal injury attorney Ben Crump issued the following statement in response to reports that Hunter Foster, the Senatobia police officer who shot and killed 1-year-old Kohen Wiley, has resigned.
Senatobia Mayor Greg Graves confirmed Foster’s resignation after the Mississippi Department of Public Safety released body-camera and surveillance footage from the June 14 shooting. Foster’s resignation took effect after the city’s Board of Aldermen accepted it. AOL.com
The resignation comes days after the Mississippi Attorney General’s Office announced that Foster would not face criminal charges, concluding that his use of deadly force was justified under state law. Kohen’s family and attorneys dispute that conclusion and continue seeking additional review of the shooting. Mississippi Today
Ben Crump Responds to Hunter Foster’s Resignation
Attorney Crump issued the following statement:
“Officer Foster’s resignation is hardly a step toward accountability, and it is certainly not justice. A badge cannot simply be turned in to escape responsibility for taking the life of an innocent 1-year-old baby. Kohen Wiley is never coming home to his mother, and no resignation can undo the devastating consequences of that officer’s actions.
“We will not allow this resignation to be the end of the story. Kohen’s family deserves answers, a full accounting of what happened, and meaningful accountability. We will continue demanding permanent decertification and a federal investigation. Turning in a badge does not erase responsibility for taking a life, and it will not end our fight for justice for Kohen and his family.”
Kohen Wiley Was Killed During a June Walmart Parking-Lot Encounter
Kohen was killed on June 14 during an encounter between police and a vehicle outside a Walmart in Senatobia.
According to recently released footage, officers approached the vehicle after a Walmart employee alerted them to two women accused of shoplifting. The vehicle reversed, struck another vehicle, and then moved forward as officers ordered it to stop. AP News
Foster fired through the front passenger-side window, where Kohen was sitting on his mother’s lap.
Kohen later died from his injuries.
Kohen’s mother, Vellesiya Wiley, and the driver have denied stealing from the store and have not been charged in connection with the alleged shoplifting as of the latest reporting. AP News
Bodycam Footage Released Before Foster’s Resignation
The Mississippi Department of Public Safety released body-camera and surveillance footage from the shooting on Oct. 22.
Action News 5 reported that Foster’s bodycam shows him running from the store with other officers after receiving information about the alleged shoplifting incident. Within approximately 13 seconds, his firearm was aimed toward the vehicle containing Kohen. https://www.actionnews5.com
The footage captures officers shouting for the vehicle to stop before gunfire, breaking glass, and screeching brakes can be heard.
Kohen’s family and attorneys have argued that the footage does not support the conclusion that Foster faced an imminent threat when he fired.
Foster’s attorney, however, has said the officer had no choice because the vehicle was moving toward him. AP News
Family Disputes State Decision Clearing Foster
On Oct. 19, the Mississippi Attorney General’s Office announced that Foster’s use of force was justified and that he would not face criminal charges.
The state concluded that the available evidence supported Foster’s use of deadly force. Mississippi Today
Kohen’s family and attorneys disagree.
Crump has argued that the available video and an independent autopsy raise questions about the claim that Foster faced imminent danger when he fired. AP reported that the family’s legal team is continuing to seek federal review. AP News
The criminal decision does not resolve whether separate civil claims may be pursued under different legal standards.
Family Calls for Permanent Decertification
Foster’s resignation removes him from the Senatobia Police Department, but it does not necessarily prevent him from working as a law enforcement officer elsewhere.
AP reported that state officials confirmed Foster remained certified as a police officer following the resignation. AP News
That is why Kohen’s family and attorneys are calling for permanent decertification in addition to a federal investigation.
Police certification and decertification are separate from an officer’s employment with a particular department.
Resigning from one agency, therefore, does not necessarily have the same legal effect as losing law-enforcement certification.
Family Continues Seeking Federal Investigation
Kohen’s family has also asked the federal government to review the shooting.
A federal investigation could examine legal issues different from those evaluated during the state criminal review.
Crump’s statement makes clear that the family does not consider Foster’s resignation or the state attorney general’s decision to be the end of the matter.
The legal team says it will continue pursuing accountability and answers surrounding Kohen’s death.
Resignation Does Not Automatically Resolve Civil Liability
An officer’s resignation generally does not determine whether civil liability exists.
A potential civil rights lawsuit may examine issues such as:
- whether the officer used constitutionally excessive force;
- whether the vehicle posed an immediate threat;
- where Foster was positioned when he fired;
- the trajectory and timing of the shots;
- what the bodycam and surveillance footage show;
- whether departmental policies were followed;
- whether supervisory or municipal liability may exist; and
- damages that may be available if liability is established.
Those questions are separate from the question of whether Foster remains employed by the Senatobia Police Department.
People seeking general information about these claims can review Ben Crump Law’s civil rights lawyer resources.
What Happens Next in the Kohen Wiley Case?
Foster’s resignation changes his employment status, but several unresolved issues remain.
The family is continuing to seek:
- permanent decertification;
- federal review of the shooting;
- additional accountability;
- and answers regarding the circumstances surrounding Kohen’s death.
Public reporting also indicates that Kohen’s family is considering federal civil litigation. https://www.actionnews5.com
Any future civil case would proceed under legal standards different from those used in the criminal review conducted by Mississippi authorities.
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ABOUT BEN CRUMP LAW
Through his work, nationally renowned civil rights and personal injury attorney Ben Crump has spearheaded a legal movement to better protect the rights of marginalized citizens. He has led landscape-changing civil rights cases and represented clients in a wide range of areas, including civil rights, personal injury, labor and employment, class actions, and more. Ben Crump Law is dedicated to holding the powerful accountable. For more information, visit bencrump.com.
