Overview

• Victor Perez, a 17-year-old nonverbal autistic teen, was fatally shot by Pocatello police on April 5 after officers responded to a report of him holding a kitchen knife in a fenced yard.
• Perez underwent multiple surgeries, including a leg amputation, before being declared brain-dead and removed from life support on April 12.
• The family’s lawyers have filed a mandatory wrongful death notice, alleging excessive force and emotional distress, as a precursor to a federal lawsuit against the city, police chief, and officers.
• The Eastern Idaho Critical Incident Taskforce is conducting an independent investigation, with the Idaho Attorney General set to review findings to determine potential criminal charges.
• The incident has reignited debates over police training and response to individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities in crisis situations.