ID - 17-year old with autism in critical condition after being shot by police while wielding knife - Pocatello, April 10, 2025

[Clearsky]

Teen with Autism, Cerebral Palsy Critically Wounded After Being Shot by Idaho Police While Allegedly Wielding Knife

A 17-year-old boy in Idaho, whose family says he has autism and cerebral palsy, was shot by officers over the weekend after he was wielding a knife — which has prompted investigations into the incident.

people.com

Footage of the shooting has since been shared by multiple outlets including CNN and the Associated Press, with the teen being identified by family as 17-year-old Victor Perez.

 

[Goecke]

Victor had NINE bullets surgically removed from his body. Even if the police's version of events is true (highly doubtful IMO), at least nine shots seems incredibly excessive for a physically disabled teenager, not to mention risky given that there were two other people nearby.

 

[iamshadow21]

Sleep well, Victor.

Like Sonya Massey, you deserved so much better.

Teen with autism shot by Idaho police has died, his family confirms

An autistic and non-verbal teenage boy who was shot repeatedly by Idaho police has died after being removed from life support, his family says.

www.abc.net.au

 

[Goecke]

So, so tragic. My heart is with Victor's loved ones.

 

[bootsinmass]

This is tragic and my thoughts are with the family. As someone with autistic and disabled relatives, mentally ill loved ones, and friends battling addiction, it's terrifying to think that a desperate call for help could turn into sanctioned murder.

I'm repeatedly outraged by the excuses that LE makes for officers who fall to serve and protect. If we as a society want to cultivate trust in our LE forces, that starts with holding them accountable for their actions. Whether that is conviction, training and education, termination or suspension - the simple knowledge that LE can shoot and kill someone without consequence will naturally sow fear and mistrust. LE are people and that means good and bad - but often so many excuses are made for the bad actions that it dilutes the good that they do.

What I don't understand with many of these police shooting incidents is, are they not trained to disable first? The public statements often make it seem as if the responding officers had two choices: deescalate verbally or shoot to kill. As if we no longer supply LE with tasers, pepper spray, or other non-lethal options. I guess I also missed the news that bullets don't work on legs anymore? (/sarcasm)

Pardon my rant - this one hit close to home in many ways for me.

 

[Unalienable Rights]

Police release body camera video of nonverbal, autistic teen’s fatal shooting

Police in Idaho released body-worn and security camera recordings Thursday showing officers fatally shooting a knife-wielding, intellectually disabled teenage boy from the other side of a chain link fence, confirming that they made no effort to de-escalate the situation before opening fire.

www.cleveland19.com

April 18, 2025

Police in Idaho released body-worn and security camera recordings Thursday showing officers fatally shooting a knife-wielding, intellectually disabled teenage boy from the other side of a chain link fence, confirming that they made no effort to de-escalate the situation before opening fire.

*****
The city’s release of the videos included text slides that stressed that Perez was approaching the officers, who were on the other side of a chain link fence from him, while holding the knife, and that he was close to two family members who were behind him.

“Whether or not Perez had a medical condition or was experiencing a mental health crisis was not provided to dispatch or known to officers,” one slide read.

See linked article for more.

 

[PrairieWind]

The video I have seen is very disturbing for sure. That shooting just seems sooooo unnecessary.

 

[Crimeandcoffee]

The video I have seen is very disturbing for sure. That shooting just seems sooooo unnecessary.

There wasn't even an attempt at de-escalation. That was a firing squad IMO.

 

[PrairieWind]

There wasn't even an attempt at de-escalation. That was a firing squad IMO.

I have to agree.

 

[mickey2942]

So, the question is, who called the police, and why? Police are an intervention, that involves force. They don't usually talk people down, they tell the "threat" to put down the weapon. If the threat does not comply with Police officers, that is considered an "escalation".

In the end, Police officers are not social workers or, special education teachers. They take care of a threat.

I had an opportunity to attend a "mini POST" training, and I learned a lot.

 

[bolasangel]

This is tragic and my thoughts are with the family. As someone with autistic and disabled relatives, mentally ill loved ones, and friends battling addiction, it's terrifying to think that a desperate call for help could turn into sanctioned murder.

I'm repeatedly outraged by the excuses that LE makes for officers who fall to serve and protect. If we as a society want to cultivate trust in our LE forces, that starts with holding them accountable for their actions. Whether that is conviction, training and education, termination or suspension - the simple knowledge that LE can shoot and kill someone without consequence will naturally sow fear and mistrust. LE are people and that means good and bad - but often so many excuses are made for the bad actions that it dilutes the good that they do.

What I don't understand with many of these police shooting incidents is, are they not trained to disable first? The public statements often make it seem as if the responding officers had two choices: deescalate verbally or shoot to kill. As if we no longer supply LE with tasers, pepper spray, or other non-lethal options. I guess I also missed the news that bullets don't work on legs anymore? (/sarcasm)

Pardon my rant - this one hit close to home in many ways for me.

 

[bolasangel]

I agree. It seems with almost every LE involved shooting it's so excessive. They can shoot knees to bring them down if that force is needed. When one fires they all fire and continue until the clip is empty. I do not trust LE and it's the fact that most are never held accountable.

 

[PrairieWind]

So, the question is, who called the police, and why? Police are an intervention, that involves force. They don't usually talk people down, they tell the "threat" to put down the weapon. If the threat does not comply with Police officers, that is considered an "escalation".

In the end, Police officers are not social workers or, special education teachers. They take care of a threat.

I had an opportunity to attend a "mini POST" training, and I learned a lot.

I don't know if it has been specifically said who called, but the reports I read made it sound like it was a neighbor that called about an intoxicated man with a knife.
Regardless, he was on the ground when police arrived, there was a fence between the officers and him, and they had non-lethal means at the ready. I don't think "officer safety" is going to justify this shooting.

 

[weepingangel]

Body-worn camera footage shows Idaho police shooting autistic teen 16 seconds after arriving

Victor Perez, 17, was holding a knife at the time, but was separated from the officers by a metal fence. He died in a Pocatello, Idaho, hospital a week after the shooting.

www.nbcnews.com

 

[Goecke]

From the original People article regarding the 911 call-
"Brad Andres, who took the video, told the AP that his 19-year-old son Bridger called 911, noting that when police arrived, they “appeared to be like a death squad or a firing squad."


“They never once asked, ‘What is the situation, how can we help?’ They ran up with their guns drawn, they triggered a mentally disabled person to react and when he reacted ... they shot him," Andres said.


“This was really traumatic for me to watch, for me and my son to be a part of. My son was the one that called the 911 with the hopes of helping the family deal with the situation that was going on. He had no idea that what was going to transpire.”"

Teen with Autism, Cerebral Palsy Critically Wounded After Being Shot by Idaho Police While Allegedly Wielding Knife

A 17-year-old boy in Idaho, whose family says he has autism and cerebral palsy, was shot by officers over the weekend after he was wielding a knife — which has prompted investigations into the incident.

people.com

That seems to imply that (at the very least) the caller's dad knew Victor was disabled. I wonder what exactly was said. I'd like to see the call, or at least a transcript of it, be released.

 

[weepingangel]

From the original People article regarding the 911 call-
"Brad Andres, who took the video, told the AP that his 19-year-old son Bridger called 911, noting that when police arrived, they “appeared to be like a death squad or a firing squad."


“They never once asked, ‘What is the situation, how can we help?’ They ran up with their guns drawn, they triggered a mentally disabled person to react and when he reacted ... they shot him," Andres said.


“This was really traumatic for me to watch, for me and my son to be a part of. My son was the one that called the 911 with the hopes of helping the family deal with the situation that was going on. He had no idea that what was going to transpire.”"

Teen with Autism, Cerebral Palsy Critically Wounded After Being Shot by Idaho Police While Allegedly Wielding Knife

A 17-year-old boy in Idaho, whose family says he has autism and cerebral palsy, was shot by officers over the weekend after he was wielding a knife — which has prompted investigations into the incident.

people.com

That seems to imply that (at the very least) the caller's dad knew Victor was disabled. I wonder what exactly was said. I'd like to see the call, or at least a transcript of it, be released.

There’s an audio of the 911 call towards the bottom of this page

Pocatello releases video with bodycam and security footage of Victor Perez shooting - East Idaho News

Pocatello has released body camera footage of the shooting of 17-year-old Victor Perez. He died after being shot 9 times.

www.eastidahonews.com