ATF investigates fire at Senatobia Police Department

Fire crews extinguished a blaze at the Senatobia Police Department headquarters early Saturday morning in Mississippi. The U.S. Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives joined local agencies to investigate the incident. The cause of the fire remained unclear as of Saturday.

The Senatobia Fire Department received a call at 4:58 a.m. reporting smoke inside the building. Crews responded quickly and knocked out the flames before they could spread. The department did not release specific details regarding the extent of the damage to the structure.

The building houses the police force in the town of 8,000, which has faced intense scrutiny in recent months. The tension stems from a June incident where an officer shot and killed 1-year-old Kohen Wiley. Wiley was in a vehicle with his mother and her friend during a shoplifting call at a local Walmart.

Wiley's mother was unharmed, but her friend suffered serious injuries. The women stated they did not steal anything, and no charges were filed against them. Wiley was Black, and the event sparked community outrage in the town located 40 miles south of Memphis.

Personnel changes have followed the shooting. In September, the police chief was fired after reports alleged he used racist slurs in private text messages. Earlier this month, the officer involved in Wiley's death resigned. The Mississippi Attorney General's office concluded its probe by clearing the officer of criminal wrongdoing, stating his use of force was justified.