Mississippi officer who fatally shot 1-year-old Kohen Wiley resigns from the Senatobia police department
NBC News reported Friday, citing a city official, that the Mississippi police officer who fired the shot that killed 1-year-old Kohen Wiley has resigned. PBS NewsHour, citing the mayor, identified him as Sgt. Hunter Foster, 33, and reported that the Mississippi attorney general's office had cleared him of criminal wrongdoing earlier this week after a monthslong probe concluded his use of force was justified. The Guardian reported that Foster fired at a vehicle during a shoplifting call at a Walmart and that he resigned from the Senatobia police department.
The resignation follows the attorney general's finding, so it addresses employment but not the legal question, which PBS says was resolved in the officer's favor.
If you live in the area, the next public steps are likely to be city and department decisions. If you follow policing, this is a case where a state review and public reaction diverged.
The legal view, per PBS NewsHour, is that the attorney general's monthslong probe found the use of force justified. On this view, the officer broke no criminal law.
The Guardian's account centers on the circumstances: an officer firing at a vehicle during a shoplifting call at a Walmart, killing a 1-year-old. On this view, the clearance does not settle whether the shooting was appropriate.
Confirmed: the officer resigned Friday and was cleared by the state earlier this week. Not confirmed: the reason for the resignation, any civil action or federal review. Watch for statements from the family and the city.
DailyDrop U.S. No. 19 · October 23, 2026 · Evening