A 17-year-old boy with autism and cerebral palsy has been declared brain-dead days after being shot by police officers in a confrontation that has shaken the community of Pocatello. The teen’s aunt, Ana Vazquez, confirmed his condition in a message to the press Friday evening.
The shooting occurred on the afternoon of April 5, after a neighbor called 911 to report a person with a knife. When officers arrived outside the Perez family home, where a barbecue was underway, they fired nine rounds at Victor Perez.
According to relatives, Victor had found a knife that family members had previously hidden for safety reasons. His sister was trying to take it from him when police arrived. Vazquez said no one in the family felt they were in danger.
A video recorded by a bystander captures the encounter. In the footage, officers are seen ordering Victor to drop the knife. He appears unsteady as he rises to his feet and approaches the officers while holding the weapon. A metal fence separates him from the officers at the moment they open fire.
Pocatello Police Chief Roger Schei defended the officers’ actions, saying, “Two people were just feet away from an armed and non-compliant individual. The risk was immediate.” Schei added that officers gave multiple commands for the teen to drop the knife before firing.
Vazquez disputes that account, saying the officers failed to take the time to assess the situation. “Victor was in crisis. He wasn’t a real threat,” she said.
Two investigations have been launched: an internal probe by the police department and an external review by the Eastern Idaho Critical Incident Task Force. The four officers involved have been placed on administrative leave, in accordance with department policy on the use of lethal force.
Pocatello Mayor Brian Blad released a statement expressing sorrow over the incident: “Our hearts go out to the Perez family during this time of immense grief. We understand the impact this tragedy has had on our community.”
