Idaho State Police have released body cam footage of a fatal shooting of a teenager officer with nonverbal autism holding a knife.
Victor Perez, 17, passed away on April 13th, eight days after being shot by a Pocatello Police Station officer. He was called to his family home after receiving reports of a man armed with a knife chasing people.
Video of the incident’s body cam shows an officer running at the scene on April 5th that Perez lay on his belly in the front yard and holding a knife in his left hand.
“Drop the knife!” cried the officer as he pulled out his handgun.
It appears that two families in the front yard were trying to calm the officer, and one man by the fence appears to be holding his hand, as if seeking restraint, According to Idaho News 6.
As the officer continued to scream, “Drop the knife,” Perez still grabbed his weapon and stood up.
The 17-year-old appeared to be walking halfway towards the police. This was when officers fired from the other side of the fence, according to bodycam footage.
Perez, who also had cerebral palsy, went into coma and underwent several surgeries, including amputation of the legs, but was given life support last week. Associated Press.
These surgeries removed nine bullets from the teens.
Officers fired the first shot less than 15 seconds after breaking out of the police cruiser, making no obvious effort to get rid of the situation.
The AP reported that the shooting had spurred local rage and that several Pocatello residents were picketing the police station.
“After this, no one in the community who trusts the police can imagine. They were once again called to help a minor who had an episode of mental health in his front yard and they put him at the death door,” protester Dylan Harrison said. Idaho News 6.
