Fire at Mississippi Police Headquarters in Senatobia; Federal ATF Joins Investigation

A fire has broken out at the headquarters building of the Senatobia Police Department in the U.S. state of Mississippi. The federal Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) and local agencies are investigating the cause of the fire, which occurred on Saturday morning.

The Senatobia Fire Department said in a statement that firefighters were dispatched at 4:58 a.m. after smoke was reported in the building, and crews were quickly able to knock out the fire. No details of the damage were given.

It remains unclear what caused the fire or whether it was intentionally set. The Associated Press has sought comment from the fire department, the police department and the Tate County Sheriff's Office.

The police department has faced outrage from the local community in recent months. In June, an officer investigating a shoplifting call at a Walmart fired into a vehicle and killed one-year-old Kohen Wiley.

The child's mother was in the vehicle and was unharmed, but her friend was seriously injured. Both women denied having stolen anything, and no charges have been filed against them.

In September, the police chief was fired after investigative reporting by The New York Times, Mississippi Today and Verite News alleged that he had used racist slurs in private text messages.

Earlier this month, the officer involved in the shooting resigned. The Mississippi Attorney General's office, however, cleared him of criminal wrongdoing after its probe concluded that his use of force had been justified.

Senatobia is a community of about 8,000 people, located roughly 40 miles (65 kilometers) south of Memphis.