Idaho Police Shoot Autistic Teen Within Seconds \ Newslooks \ Washington DC \ Mary Sidiqi \ Evening Edition \ Idaho police shot a nonverbal autistic teen within seconds of arriving on the scene, video shows. Victor Perez, 17, remains in critical condition after being shot nine times. The incident has sparked outrage and renewed scrutiny on police responses to individuals with disabilities.
Quick Looks:
- Victor Perez, 17, was shot by police in Idaho on Saturday.
- Video shows officers opening fire within 12 seconds of arrival.
- Perez is nonverbal, autistic, and intellectually disabled, family says.
- Police say teen had a knife and was unresponsive to commands.
- Perez had no prior contact with law enforcement.
- His leg was amputated, and he remains in critical condition.
- Witnesses and neighbors say officers failed to de-escalate.
- Investigation underway by East Idaho Critical Incident Task Force.
Deep Look
Outrage Erupts After Idaho Police Shoot Autistic, Nonverbal Teen Within Seconds of Arrival
A police shooting in Pocatello, Idaho, has drawn nationwide attention and outrage after video emerged showing officers opening fire on a 17-year-old autistic, nonverbal boy within seconds of exiting their patrol cars.
Victor Perez, described by his family as nonverbal, autistic, and intellectually disabled, was critically injured in the encounter. He remains hospitalized after undergoing multiple surgeries, including the amputation of his leg and removal of nine bullets from his body, according to his aunt, Ana Vazquez.
“We don’t know if he’s going to wake up,” Vazquez told the Associated Press on Tuesday, adding that doctors were conducting tests to assess his brain activity.
The shooting occurred Saturday evening and has left the family and local community stunned — especially as the bodycam footage and a bystander video appear to show police officers firing on the teen just 12 seconds after arriving on scene.
What the Video Shows
Footage taken by witness Brad Andres, who owns an auto shop near the incident, shows a rapid escalation. Police arrive, exit their vehicles, draw their weapons, and fire through a chain-link fence at Perez as he begins stepping toward them with a knife. No clear efforts to de-escalate or communicate with the teen are visible in the video.
Andres described the officers’ actions as akin to a “firing squad.”
“They never once asked, ‘What is the situation, how can we help?’” Andres said. “They triggered a mentally disabled person to react, and when he did… they shot him.”
The 911 Call and Police Response
According to audio released by the Pocatello Police Department, the 911 call came from Bridger Andres, 19, who reported a domestic disturbance involving a teen armed with a kitchen knife. The caller believed the teen was intoxicated and possibly had stabbed himself.
“He’s just running at them with a knife and then falling over,” the caller said. “He looks like he fell on the ground and kind of passed out.”
Police arrived shortly after 5:25 p.m. and encountered Perez still on the ground. As officers approached the fence, they shouted for him to drop the knife. Perez stood up and began walking unevenly toward them. That’s when officers opened fire — with no indication they attempted to assess the situation or communicate with the family, many of whom do not speak English.
Family and Community Demand Answers
Victor’s family said he wasn’t intoxicated, but rather exhibiting behavior tied to his disabilities. They had never contacted police before and had no history of law enforcement interaction.
“The police barely spoke to anyone,” said Vazquez. “They just said ‘get back,’ and they shot to kill.”
Victor’s 16-year-old sister reportedly shouted to officers that he was “special” and begged them not to shoot. It remains unclear if the officers heard or registered those comments, which were not audible in the video.
Autism and Policing: A Growing Concern
Across the U.S., police departments have begun implementing training on interacting with people who have developmental or intellectual disabilities — especially autism. These sessions often focus on recognizing behavioral traits like aversion to eye contact, delayed responses, or sensitivity to touch, which may appear as resistance or aggression to an untrained observer.
Advocates argue these protocols were clearly not followed in this case. Some states now use visual indicators like autism awareness stickers or license plate tags to alert officers. No such program appears to have been in place for Victor or his family.
Police Chief Responds
Pocatello Police Chief Roger Schei acknowledged public concern in a video posted to Facebook on Monday but urged the public to reserve judgment until a full investigation is completed. He emphasized that the video circulating shows only a “single angle.”
“In situations like this, officers must make decisions in seconds,” Schei said. “The risk was immediate, and the situation was rapidly evolving.”
The case is now under review by the East Idaho Critical Incident Task Force, and police have said no further information will be released until the investigation concludes.
A Broader Pattern
Victor’s shooting adds to a growing list of police encounters with individuals with mental or developmental disabilities that have ended in tragedy. Nationwide data suggests that people with disabilities are more than twice as likely to be involved in use-of-force incidents involving police.
Civil rights advocates are calling for mandatory autism-specific de-escalation training and questioning the protocols used in situations where individuals are clearly vulnerable or unable to communicate effectively.
For Victor Perez’s family, the hope now rests on his survival — and that his case will lead to changes that protect others like him in the future.
You must Register or Login to post a comment.