The woman, identified as Vellesiya Wiley, is mourning the loss of her son, Kohen Wiley, who died in a tragic police-involved shooting in Mississippi, United States, on June 14.
Weeks after laying her son to rest, Wiley posted several photos taken at the gravesite. In the images, she is seen standing near the toddler’s grave while holding large amounts of cash.
The photos quickly attracted attention on social media, with many users expressing confusion and questioning the reason behind the unusual display. Others, however, urged people not to judge a mother who is coping with the devastating loss of a child.
The controversy comes as Wiley and her family continue seeking answers about the circumstances surrounding Kohen’s death.
According to the Mississippi Bureau of Investigation, officers from the Senatobia Police Department responded to reports of alleged shoplifting at a Walmart store along U.S. Highway 51.
Investigators said officers approached a vehicle carrying two adults and a child believed to be connected to the incident. Authorities alleged that the driver moved the vehicle toward officers and nearly struck one of them, prompting an officer to open fire.
The vehicle later arrived at a nearby hospital, where Kohen was pronounced dead. Another occupant suffered critical injuries.
Wiley has strongly disputed the official account of events. She maintained that neither she nor her son were involved in any shoplifting incident and said she was preparing to leave the store when officers approached the vehicle with their weapons drawn.
The grieving mother said she lifted Kohen onto her lap to make it clear that a child was inside the vehicle.
Moments later, she said, gunshots rang out.
“One of the shots hit him in his rib cage,” Wiley said after the incident.
She also challenged claims that the vehicle was driving directly toward officers when the shooting occurred.
The tragic death of the toddler sparked protests outside the Senatobia Walmart, with demonstrators demanding justice for Kohen. The officer who fired the shots was placed on administrative leave as investigations continue.
As the investigation remains ongoing, Wiley’s latest social media posts have added another layer of public attention to an already heartbreaking case.
While some people questioned the photos taken at the gravesite, others defended the mother, saying everyone grieves differently and that losing a child is an unimaginable pain.
For Kohen’s family, however, the main concern remains finding out exactly what happened on the day the one-year-old lost his life.