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Eyewitness Video Captures Police Shooting of Disabled Teen in Pocatello
Disturbing eyewitness video footage has emerged, documenting the moment law enforcement officers shot a 17-year-old with mental and physical disabilities nine times in his own front yard. The incident has left the teenager in critical condition and his family demanding answers from authorities following the Pocatello police shooting.
Incident Details Emerge
The shooting of Victor Perez occurred Saturday at his Pocatello, Idaho residence, shortly after police arrived at the scene. Family members informed local news outlets that Perez was undergoing a mental health episode and was allegedly armed with a knife at the time of the Idaho police shooting.
While police have only confirmed the teenager’s age, his family has identified him to local media as Victor Perez. They explained to news sources that Perez suffers from cerebral palsy, which impairs his mobility, and that he has limited English proficiency.
According to reports from TV station KIFI, the family was informed that Perez’s left leg was amputated in one of three surgical procedures performed at the hospital in the aftermath of the shooting. He remains in critical condition.
Eyewitness Account and Video Analysis
The video, circulated on Facebook, depicts an individual lying on the ground in a yard, holding a knife. A woman is visible attempting to reason with him, uttering “no, no,” and trying to restrain him or disarm him.
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At approximately 2:44 in the video, police arrive, and four armed officers can be heard yelling, “Drop the knife” from behind a metal garden fence. Perez can be seen struggling to stand before moving in the direction of the officers. Police then opened fire at 2:58, followed by the audible screams of his family.
Family Speaks Out About Teen’s Condition
Ana Vazquez, Perez’s aunt, stated to KIFI that, “He has the brain of a little kid, about 5 years old. He is disabled. He can hardly walk. People around here, they can tell you that.”
She further stated that while he can become agitated, he is usually able to calm himself. “We always can control him,” she conveyed to the news station.
Police Statement and 911 Call
In a Saturday statement, police indicated they responded to a call regarding a “reported physical disturbance involving two male subjects and a female,” and that “it was reported that one of the male subjects was intoxicated and in possession of a knife.”
During a Monday night news conference, Pocatello Police Chief Roger Schei played the 911 call and presented a photograph of the knife Perez was holding. The 911 dispatcher can be heard being told by the caller that one man was striking another with a stick.
Schei stated that he could not answer questions from the media due to the ongoing investigations. The East Idaho Critical Incident Task Force and the Pocatello Police Department are jointly conducting the investigation into the police shooting investigation.
He asserted that officers issued “repeated commands” for Perez to drop the knife.
“He did not comply — instead he stood up and advanced towards the officers while still armed,” Schei explained. “At that point officers discharged their firearms, stopping when the male fell.”
Chief Schei defended his officers’ actions, stating, “In situations like this, officers must make decisions in seconds. They assess threats not just to themselves but to those nearby.”
“In this case, two individuals were within a few feet of an armed noncompliant individual — the risk was immediate and the situation rapidly evolving,” Schei added.
Schei also noted that officers administered life-saving aid at the scene before Perez was transported to Portneuf Regional Medical Center in Pocatello. He acknowledged that the incident has “deeply affected the community.”
He commented that the video circulating online presents only a single perspective and emphasized that “all facts and evidence” should be examined in the ongoing Pocatello Idaho news case.
Eyewitness Disagrees with Police Assessment
Brad Andres, who identified himself as the individual who recorded the video, told KIFI that he did not believe the use of force was justified.
“He was having a really bad day with mental issues, but he wasn’t chasing anybody, and everybody could easily get out of the reach of his knife. So this wasn’t a really dangerous situation,” Andres stated.
Community Protests Follow Shooting
Following the incident, some local residents staged protests outside the Pocatello Police Department on Sunday.
One protester’s handmade sign inquired, “Why were your guns drawn?” highlighting community concerns regarding the police response in Pocatello.