Outrage Builds as Video Shows Idaho Police Shooting An Autistic Teenager
Seventeen-year-old Victor Perez was autistic, nonverbal, and lived with cerebral palsy. None of that mattered when Pocatello, Idaho police arrived and opened fire on him through a chain-link fence. Victor, who had been holding a kitchen knife during a mental health episode, died Saturday after being removed from life support. He had undergone multiple surgeries, had nine bullets removed from his body, and had one of his legs amputated before doctors confirmed he no longer had brain activity.
Police claimed they were responding to a 911 call reporting a man with a knife who was “chasing” someone. In reality, Victor wasn’t intoxicated or aggressive—he walked with an uneven gait because of his condition. His family had already been trying to calm him down when officers arrived. But instead of pausing to assess the situation or ask a single question, four officers rushed the scene, shouted at Victor to drop the knife, and shot him within 12 seconds of exiting their vehicles.
Shot Through a Fence—Before Anyone Could Explain
A neighbor’s video shows Victor already on the ground after stumbling, still holding the knife, when police arrived. According to his aunt, Ana Vazquez, he tried to get up and stumbled forward, prompting officers to open fire. “Those four officers didn’t care,” Vazquez said. “They didn’t ask what was happening, what was the situation.” She added, “How’s he going to jump the fence when he can barely walk?”
The officers’ names have not been released, but they’ve been placed on administrative leave while the Eastern Idaho Critical Incident Team conducts an investigation. The Bannock County Prosecutor says the case will be reviewed by an agency outside the county for transparency. But transparency alone won’t bring Victor back—or undo the damage caused to his family and community.
A Community in Mourning, a Family Shattered
Victor’s death sparked outrage in Pocatello. About 200 people gathered for a vigil outside the hospital, while another protest formed outside City Hall, which also houses the police department. Snipers were reportedly stationed on nearby rooftops during the peaceful demonstration. Protesters held signs like “Do better, PPD” and “Justice for Victor” while passing cars honked in support.
“Those police broke our family,” Vazquez said after Victor’s death. “There is no way to explain the pain that we are feeling right now. It’s like our hearts are kind of empty—it’s not full anymore.”
Mayor Brian Blad issued a generic statement offering “thoughts and prayers” and emphasized that investigations are ongoing. But to many, the city’s response has been more about optics than justice.
Victor Was a Son, a Nephew, and a Soul Full of Joy
Victor wasn’t a threat—he was a teenager who loved pro wrestling, French fries, and holding his mother’s hand on walks. He noticed when his aunt painted her nails blue, his favorite color, and liked touching her new hairstyles. “I’m going to miss him when he used to get in his weird moods,” Vazquez said. “I used to put him to bed… I would promise him, ‘Hey, I’ll be back tomorrow but you need to lay down and sleep.’”
Her family doesn’t know what’s next beyond an autopsy scheduled for Monday. For now, they are simply trying to breathe, to rest, and to hold on to whatever pieces of Victor they still can.
America’s Modern Policing: Shoot First, Ask Never
Victor’s story isn’t rare—but it should be. In a country where police are trained to shoot before understanding, not even disability grants you mercy. No time was given. No questions were asked. A teenage boy with a kitchen knife—on his own side of a fence—was met with fatal force because he didn’t comply fast enough. Because he couldn’t.
This is the reality. Police don’t de-escalate. They execute. And when it’s done, they call it “procedure.” But for Victor Perez, there’s no policy that makes this right.
