A 17-year-old autistic teenager is fighting for his life after being shot nine times by police officers responding to a 911 call in Pocatello, Idaho, over the weekend. Victor Perez, who is nonverbal and has the cognitive capacity of a 5-year-old, is currently in critical condition, has undergone three surgeries, and has had his left leg amputated. He remains in a coma, as his devastated family pleads for accountability and justice.
The incident occurred around 5:20 p.m. on Saturday, when Brad Andres, who runs a nearby auto shop, stepped outside to take a phone call and noticed a commotion in a neighboring backyard. His 19-year-old son, Bridger Andres, placed a 911 call reporting what he believed to be a domestic disturbance. According to the Pocatello Police Department, the caller described a young man—later identified as Victor—appearing intoxicated, holding a kitchen knife, and chasing a man and woman, reportedly his grandfather and aunt.
“He seems pretty drunk,” the caller told dispatchers. “He’s just running at them with a knife and then falling over. I think he just stabbed himself, actually.” The caller also noted the individuals involved were not speaking English and described Victor collapsing in the yard.
When officers arrived just minutes later, Victor was still on the ground. Four police officers approached the backyard fence, three with handguns drawn and one with what appeared to be a shotgun. Body cam footage has not yet been released, but according to witnesses, officers shouted commands to drop the knife. Victor reportedly stood up and took a few steps toward them—still holding the knife—when officers opened fire.
Witnesses described the encounter as overwhelming and deeply troubling. “The police appeared to be like a death squad or a firing squad,” said Brad Andres, who witnessed the shooting. “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.”
Victor’s family says the teen was in the middle of a behavioral health crisis and needed support—not violence. His grandfather had been trying to calm him down, and his aunt attempted to translate as there was no Spanish-speaking officer or interpreter on the scene. The family argues the officers had limited understanding of the situation and failed to use de-escalation tactics.
“This was really traumatic for me to watch, for me and my son to be a part of,” said Andres. “My son was the one who called 911 hoping to help this family. He had no idea it would lead to this.”
The Pocatello Police Department has opened an internal investigation into the shooting. Community members and advocacy groups have already begun calling for transparency, the release of all body cam footage, and a full independent investigation.
Victor’s case raises broader concerns about law enforcement’s response to mental health and developmental disabilities, particularly involving non-English-speaking families. Advocacy organizations have also questioned the officers’ decision to respond with lethal force against a teen whose mental capacity was significantly impaired.
Victor’s family has not issued a formal statement but has asked for prayers and support as they remain at his bedside. A GoFundMe campaign is expected to be launched to help cover his medical expenses.
As the community of Pocatello grapples with the shock of the shooting, the incident has reignited national debates about police training, use-of-force policies, and mental health response protocols—especially for individuals with autism and other developmental disabilities.