Boise, Idaho – On Saturday, a tragic incident unfolded when a 17-year-old autistic and nonverbal boy, Victor Perez, passed away after being shot multiple times by Idaho police while holding a knife. Perez, who also had cerebral palsy, had been in a coma since the April 5 shooting. His family made the difficult decision to remove him from life support after tests revealed no brain activity.
The incident occurred in the city of Pocatello, Idaho, when police responded to a 911 call reporting an individual – later identified as Perez – wielding a knife and acting erratically. The situation escalated quickly, leading to officers firing upon Perez within seconds of their arrival, without attempting to de-escalate the encounter.
Footage captured by a neighbor displayed Perez lying in the yard before attempting to stand and stumbling towards the officers. The shooting, which left Perez with severe injuries requiring multiple surgeries, sparked anger and grief among his family and the Pocatello community. A vigil was organized outside the hospital to honor Perez’s memory and demand justice for his untimely death.
The four officers involved in the shooting were placed on administrative leave, pending the outcome of an independent investigation by the Eastern Idaho Critical Incident Team. The decision on whether to press charges will be determined after a thorough review of the incident.
Pocatello Mayor Brian Blad expressed condolences to Perez’s family and acknowledged the pain and sorrow caused by the tragic event. He assured the community that the matter was being addressed with the utmost seriousness and respect, with ongoing investigations to uncover the facts surrounding the officer-involved shooting. The city’s priority remains ensuring transparency and accountability in handling such incidents to maintain public trust and confidence.