Idaho teenager with autism shot by police declared brain dead.

Victor Perez, a 17-year-old resident of Pocatello, Idaho, has been declared brain dead following a police shooting that occurred on April 5 during a family barbeque in their backyard. The announcement came late Friday night from Perez’s family, who have now made the difficult decision to take him off life support.

The incident began when law enforcement responded to a report of a physical disturbance involving a teenager with a knife. Police arrived at the family’s home shortly after 5:22 p.m. According to authorities, officers ordered Perez to drop the knife, but he allegedly advanced towards them while still holding the weapon, prompting the officers to fire.

A video recorded by a neighbor captured the chaotic moments, showing multiple officers shouting commands at the teen before discharging their weapons through a chain-link fence. Following the shooting, Perez was rushed to a local hospital, where he underwent a double amputation of his legs before being declared brain dead days later.

In the aftermath of this tragic event, concerns have arisen regarding the police response. Family members expressed their views that the situation was handled with unnecessary force and lacked an effort to de-escalate. Ana Vazquez, Perez’s aunt, highlighted the fact that the police failed to engage in conversation with family members before resorting to lethal measures. She noted that Victor, who had been diagnosed with autism and cerebral palsy, was going through a behavioral episode that they believed could have been managed by his family, as they usually found ways to calm him during such moments.

Despite acknowledging that Perez had accessed a knife during the barbeque, Vazquez asserted that no one in the vicinity was in imminent danger when the officers arrived. The family has since organized a candlelight vigil in Perez’s honor, seeking community support while calling attention to the need for more appropriate training in handling individuals with disabilities in crisis situations.

This incident has raised broader questions about police protocols and the treatment of vulnerable individuals, highlighting ongoing discussions about law enforcement practices across the United States. The family hopes that the situation surrounding Victor Perez can catalyze essential changes in how similar incidents are managed in the future.

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