The family of Kohen Wiley has publicly stated that they were never contacted by investigators during the official review of the police shooting that resulted in Wiley’s death. Despite the state of Mississippi declaring the shooting “justified” following a “thorough and impartial” review, the family’s claim suggests a lack of communication between law enforcement agencies and the next of kin during the investigative process.

State officials have defended the findings of the investigation, asserting that the actions taken by officers were within the bounds of the law. However, the state has not yet released the specific evidence or documentation that led to this conclusion. This has created a point of friction, as the family and their advocates argue that the lack of transparency surrounding the investigation prevents them from understanding the full circumstances of the incident.

The Intercept reports that the state’s characterization of the review as “thorough” is currently unsupported by public records. Because the state has not provided a detailed account of the evidence reviewed or the methodology used to determine that the shooting was justified, the family remains in a position where they are questioning the legitimacy of the process. The core of the dispute lies in the discrepancy between the state’s official declaration of a closed, justified case and the family’s experience of being excluded from the investigative loop.