Mississippi Police Officer Resigns Following Fatal Shooting of One-Year-Old

A Mississippi police officer who shot into a moving car and killed a one-year-old boy outside a Walmart in June has resigned. Senatobia Mayor Greg Graves confirmed Friday that officer Hunter Foster stepped down from his position.

Investigation and Defense

Foster's resignation follows a decision by the Mississippi attorney general's office. The office announced Monday that the use of force was justified in the shooting, which began after officers responded to an alleged shoplifting incident. Police officers and Tate County sheriff's deputies were already at the Walmart for an unrelated call when they approached a moving car in the parking lot and told it to stop. When the vehicle kept moving, Foster opened fire. One-year-old Kohen Wiley was inside the car and died from the gunfire. Foster's lawyer, Martin Zummach, stated that his client had no other option because the car was moving toward him. Zummach also accused the driver of the car of trying to kill the officers. The driver has not been charged in the incident.

Family Response

Civil rights attorney Ben Crump, who represents the family of the child, called for the Department of Justice to open an investigation following the news of the resignation. Crump stated that accountability cannot end with a resignation and noted that body camera footage shows how fast the situation escalated from a shoplifting call.

Context

Incidents involving police use of force during routine retail theft calls often spark intense public debate about police tactics and officer accountability. When grand juries or state attorneys general clear officers of criminal wrongdoing, families of victims frequently turn to federal civil rights agencies like the Department of Justice to seek independent reviews.