The Pocatello Police Department has released shocking body cam footage showing officers fatally shooting 17-year-old Victor Perez, an autistic and nonverbal teen with cerebral palsy, within seconds of arriving on scene. The video, made public on Thursday, has ignited nationwide outrage, local protests, and calls for police accountability.
Video Shows Deadly Force Used Immediately Upon Arrival
In the disturbing footage captured on April 5, officers are seen exiting their patrol vehicles and immediately drawing their weapons as they approach a fenced-in yard. Inside, Victor Perez is seen on the ground, appearing disoriented while holding a knife during what police described as a family dispute.
Officers shout, “Drop the knife!” multiple times. As Perez stands up with the knife in hand and takes one step forward—with a chain-link fence still between him and the officers—police open fire without attempting any de-escalation.
Multiple Officers Fire, Family Members Mere Feet Away
According to Pocatello officials, three officers fired their service handguns, while a fourth deployed a bean bag shotgun. At the time of the shooting, two of Victor’s family members were standing just feet behind him—visibly close enough to be at risk of crossfire.
Victor was reportedly shot nine times, rushed to the hospital in critical condition, and had his leg amputated as doctors fought to save his life. He was ultimately declared clinically brain dead and removed from life support days later.
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Victim Had Autism, Cerebral Palsy — Family Outraged by Police Response
Victor’s family has confirmed he was nonverbal, autistic, and lived with cerebral palsy—factors they say clearly impacted his behavior and mobility that night. While police were responding to a report of a possibly intoxicated man with a knife, Victor’s relatives insist he was not drunk, and that his motor function issues caused him to appear unsteady.
Critically, the responding officers had no information about Victor’s medical or developmental conditions prior to their arrival—raising serious concerns about training, communication, and use-of-force protocols when dealing with individuals with disabilities.
Community Outrage and Investigation Underway
The shooting has sparked protests, candlelight vigils, and mounting public anger across Pocatello and beyond. Activists, disability rights advocates, and residents have gathered to demand justice for Victor, who they say was “gunned down without a chance to be understood.”
Critics of the police response have condemned the apparent lack of de-escalation attempts, especially given that Perez was fenced in and not posing an immediate threat to the officers outside the enclosure.
The incident is currently under investigation by the East Idaho Critical Incident Task Force, which will review the officers’ actions and determine whether any charges or disciplinary actions are warranted.
National Conversation on Policing and Disability
Victor Perez’s death joins a growing list of high-profile cases where individuals with mental health or developmental disabilities have died during confrontations with law enforcement. Disability rights groups argue that these tragedies highlight a systemic lack of training for officers in crisis response and de-escalation tactics involving neurodivergent individuals.
A Family in Mourning, A Community Demanding Answers
As the investigation unfolds, Victor’s loved ones are mourning the preventable loss of a vulnerable teenager who they say needed help, not bullets.
“This should never have happened,” a family member told reporters. “Victor was our heart, and the police didn’t even try to talk to him or us before they pulled the trigger.”
Meanwhile, civil rights attorneys and community leaders are calling for transparency, reform, and accountability, vowing to keep Victor’s name in the national spotlight until justice is served.
