‘They shot to kill’: Outrage in Idaho as police shoot autistic teen multiple times

Seventeen-year-old Victor Perez, a nonverbal autistic teen with cerebral palsy, was shot multiple times by Idaho police on Saturday as he held a kitchen knife and reportedly stepped towards them.
The officers opened fire through a fence as Victor, just seconds after they arrived at a reported domestic disturbance in Pocatello. He is now in critical condition, with one leg amputated and uncertain brain activity, reported Associated Press.
Victor’s family says he didn’t understand what was happening. He is nonverbal, has autism, and suffers from cerebral palsy. He was also intellectually disabled, according to his family.
His aunt, Ana Vazquez, confirmed that he remains in critical condition after undergoing surgeries to remove nine bullets and amputate one of his legs. “We don’t know if he’s going to wake up,” she said.
A witness video shows police officers opening fire just 12 seconds after stepping out of their vehicles. The officers had responded to a 911 call reporting a person with a knife in a backyard. The caller, the neighbour’s son, said the teen appeared drunk and was chasing two people. His family later clarified Victor was not intoxicated but had difficulty walking due to his condition.
Victor reportedly got up from the ground and moved towards the officers while holding a knife following which they shot him multiple times. His sister, who was present, reportedly screamed that he was “special,” trying to stop the shooting.
The police chief acknowledged the video but said it shows only one angle. He defended the officers’ actions, saying they had to react to a threat.
Protests have erupted in Pocatello, with many questioning why officers did not use Tasers or pepper spray instead of opening fire. Demonstrators are demanding accountability and calling for improved police training on how to handle situations involving people with disabilities.