Teenage Boy with Disability in Critical Condition After Being Shot Nine Times by Police – What Happened

According to his family, police had never been called to intervene with the teen before, making this a first-ever encounter with law enforcement.

A 17-year-old boy with multiple disabilities is fighting for his life after being shot nine times by police officers in Pocatello, Idaho. The incident, which has sparked outrage in the community and online, is now under investigation.

The teen, identified as Victor Perez, is described by his family as nonverbal, autistic, and intellectually disabled. He also lived with cerebral palsy.

His life changed when on Saturday, April 5, officers responded to a call about a physical disturbance involving two men and a woman at a residence in the 700 block of North Harrison. One of the males was said to be intoxicated and armed with a knife.

Police arrived at the scene around 5:25 p.m. and, within seconds of exiting their vehicles, opened fire on Perez, who they say was holding the knife.

Footage from a witness shows the officers firing from behind a chain-link fence as Perez stepped toward them. The shots rang out roughly 30 seconds after the officers got out of their patrol cars. No attempts to de-escalate the situation or use non-lethal means were evident in the video, according to observers.

Brad Andres, who owns a nearby auto shop and took the video, said he noticed a commotion outside around 5:20 p.m. on Saturday while stepping out to take a phone call. His 19-year-old son, Bridger, quickly dialed 911, reporting what he believed was a domestic dispute unfolding in a neighboring backyard.

In the 911 call audio released by the Pocatello Police Department, the caller said, "He seems pretty drunk. He's just running at them with a knife and then falling over. I think he just stabbed himself, actually." The caller also pointed out a language barrier, noting that the people in the yard weren't speaking English.

As the situation unfolded, the caller shared that the teen, "fell on the ground and kind of passed out." Police arrived just minutes later, around 5:25 p.m., finding the teen still on the ground. Video footage shows four officers approaching the yard’s fence, three with handguns drawn and another with what appears to be a shotgun.

Officers ordered the teen to drop the knife, but when he stood and began moving toward them, still holding the weapon, they opened fire.

Andres said the officers “appeared to be like a death squad or a firing squad,” criticizing how quickly the situation escalated. “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," he added.

Andres noted that the incident was deeply traumatic for both him and his son, who had called 911 hoping to help the family and hadn’t anticipated how the situation would unfold.

Furthermore, there's no indication that officers were aware of the teen's disabilities when they arrived. Perez's aunt, Ana Vazquez, said, "The police barely spoke to anyone. They just said get back and they just, they shot to kill.”

She added that the family had never needed police assistance with Perez before and that this was his first-ever interaction with law enforcement. According to Vazquez, her nephew has undergone three surgeries to remove nine bullets and had one of his legs amputated.

Perez remains in a coma and is currently on a ventilator. “We don't know if he's going to wake up,” Vazquez shared. Doctors are conducting tests to assess his brain activity, but his condition remains grave.

His relatives say he has already died twice and had to be resuscitated. "Even if he has brain damage, we're not going to unplug him or anything because we love him a lot," Vazquez noted.

The Pocatello Police Department stated that officers immediately performed life-saving measures on Perez before he was transported to Portneuf Medical Center by the fire department. All officers involved were unharmed. Authorities added that there is no ongoing threat to the public.

The East Idaho Critical Incident Task Force is now leading the investigation into the shooting. As news of the incident spread, dozens of protesters gathered outside the police department on Sunday, April 6, calling for accountability and answers. Still, officials have asked the public for patience and to avoid the shooting area while inquiries continue.

In a video statement posted to the Pocatello Police Department’s Facebook page, Chief Roger Schei directly addressed the officer-involved shooting to ensure the department provided clarity and details they could share with the public at this point in the investigation.

Schei aimed to counter some of the misinformation circulating. While recognizing the emotional weight of the incident, he pointed out that the video shared online only shows one perspective, so it was important to wait until all available evidence was reviewed.

He explained, "In situations like this, officers must make decisions in seconds. They assess threats not just to themselves but to those nearby. In this case, two individuals were within a few feet of an armed, noncompliant individual. The risk was immediate, and the situation rapidly evolving."

Despite the statement, many online users have questioned the officers' decision to use deadly force against a disabled teen. One person firmly rejected the department's justification, "The risk was NOT immediate.”

Another individual, disturbed by the footage, said, “I saw the video..they just started shooting. And there was a fence. Disgusting.” A simple but powerful comment read, “This make [sic] me sick.”

Someone else condemned the officers' actions, “This tragedy could of [sic] been prevented but your officers decided to shoot a mental disabled teenager. They should all be prosecuted.” A frustrated commenter echoed the sentiment, “We already know that!! What we want is JUSTICE for Victor.”

One parent expressed heartbreak and disillusionment, “This is so disgusting. What a shameful thing. Up until now I have taught my children not to be afraid of police officers and that they are there to help you. Apparently not. Absolutely shameful. He was a child. That's all you really needed to know.”

Another viewer felt the statement backfired, penning, "If anything this makes them look even worse and more GUILTY.” Demanding accountability, one commenter said, “Show us the body cams.” And others joined in, declaring, “If you want us to see your 'angle' then you guys would be more than willing to release the body footage right?”

In response to the public's swift calls for accountability, the Eastern Idaho Critical Incident Task Force has taken over the investigation, with the Bannock County Sheriff's Office and Idaho State Police (ISP) leading the effort.

According to ISP, once the initial findings are complete, the case will be handed over to a regional prosecutor for further review. Despite these steps, several community members remain skeptical of the process.

Concerns have emerged over transparency, with some residents insisting that only an independent investigation can truly ensure that every detail is properly examined. That demand has already gained traction as an online petition calling for a separate, in-depth investigation has drawn over 4,800 signatures by the time of this publication.

The Perez family has also launched a GoFundMe campaign to help cover their loved one's mounting medical expenses. In the fundraiser's description, relatives shared that doctors have warned them to brace for the worst.

The campaign set a goal of $18,000, and by the time of publication, it had already reached $18,601, surpassing its target, as support poured in from across the community.

Currently, the community is holding onto hope for Perez's recovery and at the same time, many are calling for justice. For those following the case, both healing and answers remain top of mind.