Suspected arson damages Senatobia Police headquarters months after officer fatally shot 1-year-old Kohen Wiley

A fire has damaged the Senatobia Police Department headquarters in Mississippi early Saturday, Oct. 31, months after an officer fatally shot 1-year-old Kohen Wiley during a confrontation outside a Walmart.

The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) and local authorities are investigating the blaze as a possible arson. The fire adds another development to a police department facing intense public scrutiny over the toddler’s death.

According to The Associated Press, firefighters received a report of smoke inside the headquarters and arrived at 4:58 a.m. Saturday. Crews quickly extinguished the fire. However, officials had not released details about the extent of the damage or identified what caused the blaze.

Officer Fatally Shot Kohen Wiley During Walmart Encounter

On June 14, 2026, Senatobia police officer Hunter Foster fatally shot Kohen Wiley during a police encounter in a Walmart parking lot.

Kohen Wiley (GoFundMe)

According to our previous report, officers responded to a shoplifting report involving two women accused of taking diapers and baby clothes.

Kohen was sitting on his mother’s lap inside a vehicle driven by her friend, Latoya Ferrell. As the vehicle pulled away, Foster fired multiple shots.

The gunfire killed Kohen and wounded Ferrell. His mother, Vellesiya Wiley, survived.

Neither woman has been charged with shoplifting. Both women denied stealing anything.

Foster’s attorney later said the officer fired because he believed the vehicle was moving toward him. However, video reviewed by Mississippi Today showed the vehicle’s front wheel turning away from Foster as it approached.

Police Chief Fired Amid Racist Text Message Scandal

The department faced additional controversy after reports detailed racist language in private text messages attributed to Police Chief Harold Vanderford.

On Sept. 1, the city’s Board of Aldermen unanimously fired Vanderford, despite his submitting a resignation letter that day.

Meanwhile, Foster resigned in October.

On Oct. 19, Mississippi Attorney General Lynn Fitch announced that Foster’s use of force was justified. Her office declined to pursue criminal charges. Foster said he shot because he believed the vehicle was charging toeard him.

Investigation Into Suspected Arson

It remains unclear what ignited the fire Saturday morning. The US Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives are investigating the circumstances alongside local agencies.

“We want to assure the public that this incident is being taken extremely seriously,” the department’s interim chief LaMorris Hampton said in a statement Saturday night.

“Due to the ongoing nature of this investigation, certain details cannot be released at this time,” the statement continued.

“We understand the concerns this incident may raise within our community and want to reassure our citizens that we remain dedicated to fulfilling our responsibilities with professionalism, integrity, and transparency.”