A one-year-old boy has been shot and killed by police in Senatobia, Mississippi, after officers responded to a shoplifting call. The death of such a young child in a police shooting has sparked outrage in the community and prompted calls for answers, with the case now in the hands of state investigators. Footage from the scene showed a shattered window and a bullet hole in a windshield, the aftermath of the deadly encounter.
According to investigators, the shooting took place on Sunday in a Walmart parking lot. Officers had responded to a shoplifting call that involved two adults and a child. The family's lawyer has since identified the two adults as the boy's mother and her friend, placing the one-year-old at the centre of what unfolded in the car park.
Authorities say that as officers arrived, the two adults tried to get away, driving toward and nearly hitting an officer. Another officer then opened fire at the car. In video from the scene, officers could be seen running, and one witness described the two adults as they left, saying one was carrying the child while the other was carrying a box of diapers.
Investigators say the group ended up at a local hospital, where the one-year-old boy was pronounced dead. One of the adults suffered critical injuries in the shooting. No officers were injured during the incident, which has left the surrounding community shaken by the outcome of a call that had started over alleged shoplifting.
The circumstances have fuelled anger, with people questioning whether the use of gunfire in a public parking lot was necessary. One person who spoke out said they were angry because, from what they had heard of what happened, the situation that took place was unnecessary, capturing a sentiment that has spread since news of the boy's death emerged.
The boy's family has been left distraught and is demanding answers. A relative, speaking through their grief, said they did not know anything about why it had happened, adding that their grandson was gone and that they just wanted justice. The loss of a one-year-old in such circumstances has made the case especially raw for those close to the family.
The Mississippi Bureau of Investigation is now reviewing the shooting. As the state agency examines what happened, the key questions centre on the decision to fire at the car and the sequence of events that led to a child being killed, with the family and the wider public awaiting the findings of that investigation.