The autistic nonverbal teenager who was repeatedly shot by Idaho police from the other side of the chain link fence while he was holding a knife, died Saturday after being excluded from life support, his family said.
Victor Perez, 17, who also suffers from cerebral palsy, has been in coma since the April 5th shooting. Tests on Friday showed he had no brain activity, his aunt, Anna Vazquez, told The Associated Press. He underwent several surgeries, and the doctor removed nine bullets and ablated his leg.
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Police in the city of Pocatello in southwestern Idaho responded to a 911 call that an apparently drunk man with a knife was chasing someone in his yard. It turns out to be Perez. Perez was not drunk, but he walked on a stroll that was shifted due to his disability, Vasquez said. His family was about to leave his big knife from him.
This photo provided by Ana L Vazquez shows Victor Perez in a hospital bed in Pocatello, Idaho. (Anna L. Vasquez via AP)
Videos filmed by neighbors showed Perez lying in the yard as four officers arrived and rushed to the fence at the edge of the garden. They immediately ordered Perez to drop the knife, but instead he stood and began to stumble towards them.
Officers fired within about 12 seconds of getting out of the police car and made no obvious efforts to escalate the situation.
The shootings infuriated Perez's family and Pocatello residents, and a residency was planned on Saturday morning outside the Pocatello hospital where he was treated.
“Everyone was trying to tell the police, no, no,” Vasquez said. “These four officers didn't bother. They didn't ask what was going on or what the situation was.”
“How does he jump the fence when he can barely walk?” she said.
Officers whose names have not been released were placed on administrative leave.
Bannock County Prosecutor Ian Johnson said the decision on whether to be charged against them will come after an independent investigation by the Idaho Critical Incident Team.
“Once that investigation is completed, a report will be submitted for review,” he said. “In a continuing effort to ensure independent and objective consideration, the report said that it will be reviewed by agencies outside of Bannock County.”
Pocatello Mayor Brian Brad said in a statement Friday that officials' thoughts and prayers will be with them after the family announced Perez had no brain activity.
“We are aware of the pain and sadness this incident has caused in our community,” Brad said.
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Brad said Thursday that the city is dealing with “it is appropriate for this issue, it deserves it, and with proper respect for the gravity of the situation.”
“With the ongoing crimes, external and internal investigations involving officers, we are unable to answer questions due to concerns that we would interfere or compromise the investigation,” he said.
