POCATELLO, IDAHO — A quiet neighborhood was thrown into chaos Sunday evening when 17-year-old Victor Alicea Perez, a nonverbal autistic teen with physical disabilities, was shot nine times by Pocatello police officers outside his home. The incident, now being labeled an “officer-involved shooting” by authorities, has ignited protests and raised deep concerns about police response to individuals with disabilities and mental health conditions.
The shooting occurred shortly after 5:25 p.m. when police responded to a 911 call reporting a domestic disturbance. According to family members, Victor had been experiencing a meltdown—a common occurrence for someone on the autism spectrum—but posed no real danger. Video captured by a bystander shows officers arriving at the home and confronting Victor, who was holding a kitchen knife while standing in his front yard. Within seconds of shouting commands, multiple shots rang out.
Victor crumpled to the ground.
Miraculously, he survived the shooting, but his injuries were catastrophic. He underwent emergency surgery at Portneuf Medical Center, where doctors were forced to amputate one of his legs due to the extent of the trauma. He remains in critical condition.
Victor’s family is devastated and outraged. His mother, Elena Perez, described her son as “gentle, slow-moving, and afraid of loud noises.” She says he was unable to process or react to police commands quickly—let alone act violently. “They didn’t try to talk to him. They didn’t give him a chance,” she said, holding back tears during a Monday morning press conference. “They shot first. Nine times.”
Victor was born with a host of challenges, including developmental delays and limited motor function. While he sometimes carried objects like toys or kitchen items to self-soothe during episodes, his family insists he had no capacity to lunge or threaten. Neighbors and witnesses echoed the same, expressing disbelief over the officers’ use of force.
“He looked scared, not violent,” said Anthony Reed, a neighbor who witnessed the shooting from across the street. “He didn’t run, he didn’t charge, he didn’t say a word. He stood there. Then they opened fire.”
Protests erupted outside the Pocatello Police Department the following evening, with dozens of community members chanting “Justice for Victor” and holding signs that read “Autism is not a crime” and “Nine bullets, zero compassion.” Local disability rights advocates and mental health professionals have called on the department to release body camera footage, implement de-escalation training, and be held accountable.
“This was a child in crisis,” said Dr. Michelle Owens, a psychologist and disability advocate. “And the people trained to protect and serve failed him—horrifically.”
The Pocatello Police Department has released limited information so far, stating only that a knife was involved and that the shooting is under review by an external agency. The officers involved have been placed on administrative leave pending the outcome of the investigation.
Victor’s family has retained legal counsel and is exploring a civil rights lawsuit. They say their only focus now is keeping Victor alive and making sure this never happens to another family again.
As Victor remains in the ICU, fighting for his life and a future forever altered, his story continues to send shockwaves through Idaho and beyond. His name has become a rallying cry for those demanding better—better crisis intervention, better disability awareness, better humanity.
This is not just a story about one teen. It’s about a system that too often sees difference as danger, and vulnerability as threat.
We stand with Victor. We demand answers. And we pray for healing—for his body, his spirit, and a community that must now reckon with what justice truly means.
The post Outcry in Pocatello: Community Demands Justice After Police Shoot Autistic Teen Nine Times first appeared on Trusted and Verified USA News.
