Overview

• Victor Perez, described by his family as nonverbal, autistic, and intellectually disabled, was shot by police after approaching them with a knife behind a chain-link fence.
• Perez sustained critical injuries, including the removal of nine bullets and the amputation of his leg, with doctors now assessing his brain activity.
• Eyewitnesses and family members criticized the officers for their rapid use of lethal force, citing a lack of de-escalation attempts or use of non-lethal options.
• The East Idaho Critical Incident Task Force is investigating the shooting, while Pocatello Police Chief Roger Schei defended the officers' split-second decision-making in a high-pressure situation.
• Community protests outside the Pocatello Police Department have called for accountability and raised concerns about police interactions with vulnerable individuals.