POCATELLO, ID — Tensions are rising in Pocatello following a police-involved shooting Saturday evening that left one person critically injured and sparked growing calls for transparency and accountability. The incident occurred during what police described as a “physical disturbance” involving three individuals. While officials have yet to confirm the identity of the victim, multiple eyewitnesses and community members claim the individual shot was a 16-year-old, non-English speaking minor with autism.
According to the Pocatello Police Department, officers responded to a call on Saturday evening reporting a disturbance. Upon arrival, police said they encountered a person armed with a knife and, during the confrontation, fired their weapon. The condition of the individual remains unknown, but sources say the person was transported to a nearby hospital with life-threatening injuries.
Witness accounts tell a far more emotional story. Several neighbors and bystanders have said the teen appeared confused and scared, not aggressive. “He didn’t understand what was happening,” said one witness. “He was trying to back away. They didn’t need to shoot him.” Others noted that there appeared to be a communication barrier between the teen and responding officers, further complicating the situation.
The Pocatello Police Department has declined to release additional details, including the age, identity, or medical condition of the person shot. A spokesperson told local news outlet KTVB that they would be issuing a formal statement Monday and advised reporters to follow up at that time.
In the hours following the shooting, several videos began circulating on social media platforms. One video, obtained by KTVB and taken by an anonymous bystander, appears to show a chaotic scene in which officers shout commands before a single gunshot is heard. The footage has only added fuel to a growing wave of concern and outrage online, with advocates for disability rights and immigrant families calling for an immediate and independent investigation.
Community members gathered outside the Pocatello Police Department Sunday afternoon for a candlelight vigil and peaceful protest, holding signs that read “Justice for the Voiceless,” “Protect, Don’t Harm,” and “Autism is Not a Crime.” Many in attendance shared personal stories of loved ones with special needs, expressing fear that this tragedy could happen to anyone facing communication challenges or language barriers.
Local officials, including city council members and advocacy organizations, are now urging the police department to release body camera footage and provide clarity on what exactly happened during the encounter.
“This is a heartbreaking situation,” said one community advocate. “If the reports are true that this was a non-verbal or limited-verbal autistic teen, then this wasn’t just a tragedy—it was a failure of protocol, a failure to protect someone vulnerable.”
The Idaho State Police has reportedly been called in to lead the investigation into the officer-involved shooting, and further updates are expected in the coming days. Meanwhile, the family of the individual—still unnamed publicly—has requested privacy as they await news of their loved one’s condition.
As the investigation unfolds, the Pocatello community remains united in its demand for answers and a renewed commitment to ensuring that all individuals, especially those with disabilities and language barriers, are met with compassion, patience, and understanding during police encounters.
This is a developing story.
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