Intellectually disabled teen shot by Idaho police dies after being removed from life support
Share and Follow

An autistic, nonverbal teenage boy who was shot repeatedly by Idaho police from the other side of a chain-link fence while he was holding a knife died Saturday after being removed from life support, his family said.

Victor Perez, 17, who also has cerebral palsy, had been in a coma since the April 5 shooting, and tests Friday showed that he had no brain activity, his aunt, Ana Vazquez, told The Associated Press. He had undergone several surgeries, with doctors removing nine bullets and amputating his leg.

Police in the southwest Idaho city of Pocatello responded to a 911 call reporting that an apparently intoxicated man with a knife was chasing someone in a yard. It turned out to be Perez, who was not intoxicated but walked with a staggered gait due to his disabilities, Vazquez said. His family members had been trying to get the large kitchen knife away from him.

Idaho Police Teen-Shooting

This photo provided by Ana L Vazquez, shows Victor Perez in a hospital bed in Pocatello, Idaho.  (Ana L. Vazquez via AP)

Video taken by a neighbor showed that Perez was lying in the yard after falling over when four officers arrived and rushed to the fence at the edge of the yard. They immediately ordered Perez to drop the knife, but instead he stood and began stumbling toward them.

Officers opened fire within about 12 seconds of getting out of their patrol cars and made no apparent effort to de-escalate the situation.

The shooting outraged Perez’s family and Pocatello residents, and a vigil had been planned for Saturday morning outside the Pocatello hospital where he was treated.

“Everybody was trying to tell the police, no, no,” Vazquez said. “Those four officers didn’t care. They didn’t ask what was happening, what was the situation.”

“How’s he going to jump the fence when he can barely walk?” she said.

The officers, whose names have not been released, were placed on administrative leave.

Decisions about whether charges should be filed against them will be made after an independent investigation by the Eastern Idaho Critical Incident Team, Bannock County Prosecutor Ian Johnson told the AP via email.

“When that investigation is complete a report will be submitted for review,” he said. “In a continued effort to ensure independent and objective consideration, said report will be reviewed by an agency outside of Bannock County.”

Pocatello Mayor Brian Blad said in a statement Friday, after the family announced that Perez had no brain activity, that officials’ thoughts and prayers were with them.

“We recognize the pain and grief this incident has caused in our community,” Blad said.

Blad said Thursday that the city was “addressing this matter with the seriousness and thoroughness it deserves and with the appropriate respect for the gravity of the situation.”

“The criminal, external, and internal investigations regarding the officer-involved shooting are underway, which is why we cannot answer questions out of concern of interfering with or compromising the investigation,” he said.

Share and Follow
You May Also Like
Read texts between married teacher and boy 17 before they had sex

Married Teacher’s Texts with Teen Unveiled: Shocking Details Emerge in Underage Affair

In a startling revelation, a 25-year-old teacher engaged in a three-and-a-half-hour sexual…
Here's everything you need to know about Trump accounts

Uncover the Essential Details About Trump’s Financial Accounts

Major corporations and philanthropists are increasingly backing new savings initiatives dubbed “Trump…
Canada gets revenge on Trump over tariffs with controversial move

Canada Retaliates Against Trump Administration’s Tariffs with Bold Strategy

In a strategic move, Canada has decided to counter President Donald Trump’s…
Damning new video shows Alex Pretti running at ICE agents

Shocking Footage Captures Alex Pretti Confronting ICE Agents

Newly released video captures Alex Pretti provoking ICE agents by challenging them…
College student assaulted as alleged security lapses let attacker slip onto campus: report

Campus Security Flaws Exposed: Student Assaulted After Attacker Gains Unauthorized Access

Concerns about campus security at a Florida university have been raised following…
US population growth at post-COVID low amid decline in net international migration

US Population Growth Hits New Low Due to Slump in International Migration

The United States is experiencing its most sluggish population growth rate since…
CDC on alert as deadly virus with no cure sparks Covid-era quarantines

CDC Issues Urgent Warning: Deadly Virus Triggers New Quarantine Measures Amidst Global Health Concerns

Health authorities in the United States are keeping a close watch on…
Police investigate VCU nurse who instructed 'sabotage' of ICE agents in viral TikTok videos

VCU Nurse Dismissed After Video Suggests Use of Paralytic Drug in Sabotage Against ICE Agents

A nurse employed by Virginia Commonwealth University (VCU) Health has been terminated…