Victor Perez, a 17-year-old with autism and cerebral palsy who was shot by police, died after he was removed from life support on Saturday at Portneuf Medical Center.
POCATELLO, Idaho — Victor Perez, a 17-year-old with autism and cerebral palsy who was shot by police, died after he was removed from life support on Saturday at Portneuf Medical Center in Pocatello.
Perez’s aunt, Ana Vasquez, confirmed his death with KTVB.
Doctors had pronounced Perez clinically brain dead on Friday, a week after the April 5 shooting when officers fired almost 20 times at the nonverbal teen.
There was a vigil held at the medical center on Saturday morning, where several hundred people from the community gathered. There have also been vigils held for the teenager across the state.
“They killed one member of my family,” Vasquez said. “They’re meant to protect, not kill.”
Four police officers shot Perez.
The incident occurred during what the family describes as a misunderstood situation while preparing for a barbecue. Police responded to a 911 call alleging Perez was attempting to stab family members and was intoxicated, claims strongly disputed by relatives.
Luis Alicea, Perez’s grandfather, explained that the teen approached with a knife but wasn’t threatening anyone. “I didn’t know if he was coming to play or help,” Alicea said.
The family contends Perez, who did not understand English, could not comprehend police commands before officers opened fire.
Vasquez expressed frustration that the officers involved were placed on administrative leave following the shooting.
“Victor is dying while the officers are at home with their families,” she said.
The shooting has sparked community concern about police training for interactions with people with developmental disabilities.
Following multiple surgeries, doctors removed one of Perez’s legs before he was taken off life support.
There is a GoFundMe set up for the family.
During a vigil for Perez at the Idaho State Capitol on Saturday, organizer Ashlee Worle said the community wants more police accountability and training for mental health crisis de-escalation. She also had a message for the family.
“I just want to say that I’m so sorry that this happened, and it was really hard to watch the video,” Worle said. “I myself am an autistic person, and that’s kind of my worst nightmare, is to have to deal with the police, and it was really hard to watch that, and I’m so sorry that you had to go through that, and that you had to deal with that and be present for it, that my heart will always be with the family.”
Although the rally was smaller than the one held on Saturday morning in Pocatello, many people still attended.
“This police brutality issue should have been solved many years ago, and it hasn’t, and it’s going to continue to happen until people get involved and they start making the changes that we need to make, which is making sure that police are held accountable when this kind of stuff happens, that they are taken off of the job or permanently fired,” Worle said. “You should not be able to have a badge after you’ve murdered somebody because this was a murder. This was not an accident. They killed him, and they shot him.”
The Eastern Idaho Critical Incident Task Force is investigating the Pocatello Police Officers who shot Perez.
