Law enforcement officers deployed tear gas to disperse protesters Tuesday in Senatobia, Mississippi, a city of approximately 8,000 people located north of Memphis. The protests followed a police shooting Sunday that killed a 1-year-old boy and wounded an adult in a crowded Walmart parking lot.
The child's family has retained civil rights attorney Ben Crump as part of their legal team. In a Tuesday statement, Crump said: "A 1-year-old child is dead because police officers in Mississippi opened fire on a car in a crowded Walmart parking lot." He added: "We intend to seek justice for baby Kohen and the life that was stolen from him."
What the Right Is Saying
Conservative commentators and law enforcement groups have urged patience pending the results of an official investigation. The Mississippi Department of Public Safety confirmed Tuesday that state investigators are reviewing the incident, noting that initial details remain limited.
Local officials in Senatobia emphasized that protests turned violent before tear gas was deployed. "Once crowds began throwing objects at officers and damaging property, we had an obligation to protect public safety," a city spokesperson said. Republican legislators from the region defended police discretion, arguing that officers often face split-second decisions in volatile situations.
What the Left Is Saying
Civil rights advocates and progressive groups have pointed to this incident as emblematic of excessive force by law enforcement. Crump's statement emphasized that the shooting occurred in a public, crowded space where bystanders could have been endangered. "This is yet another example of police violence claiming the life of an innocent child," advocacy groups said in coordinated social media posts Tuesday.
Democratic state legislators and local officials called for immediate transparency from the Senatobia Police Department, urging the release of body camera footage and 911 call recordings. They argued that community members deserve to know why officers opened fire on a vehicle containing a toddler. State Representative Jarvis Dortch said his office had reached out to local authorities requesting a full investigation.
What the Numbers Show
The shooting remains under investigation by the Mississippi Bureau of Investigation as of publication time. No official details on the number of officers involved, the sequence of events leading to the shooting, or whether any weapons were found in the vehicle have been released. The toddler's name was confirmed through Crump's statement; his age and the condition of the wounded adult have not been independently verified beyond initial reports.
Senatobia has a population of approximately 8,000 people according to census data. This is the first fatal police shooting in the city in at least five years based on available records. The Walmart Supercenter where the incident occurred serves as one of the largest employers in Tate County.
The Bottom Line
The investigation into baby Kohen's death is ongoing, and officials have not commented on what prompted officers to open fire. Crump's involvement signals the family intends to pursue legal action against the city. Lawmakers from both parties are watching how local authorities handle the release of investigative materials, which will likely be subject to public records requests once the investigation concludes.
What happens next: The Mississippi Bureau of Investigation is expected to release preliminary findings within weeks. A community vigil was scheduled for Wednesday evening at a local church. The Senatobia Police Department has not identified the officers involved pending completion of the internal review.