Seventeen-year-old Victor Perez, a nonverbal autistic teen with cerebral palsy, has died.
On April 12, 2025, Victor was taken off life support just one week after he was shot nine times by Pocatello, Idaho police officers responding to a call at his family home. He had been in a coma ever since the shooting.
Victor’s death isn’t just heartbreaking—it’s a direct result of a system that treats mental health and disability with bullets instead of compassion.
What Happened?
On April 5, police were called to a home in Pocatello regarding a “man with a knife.” That “man” was Victor—who had limited mobility, severe developmental disabilities, and was unable to speak.
Within seconds of arriving, officers opened fire.
No real attempts at de-escalation. No waiting for trained professionals. Just an immediate leap to deadly force.
Victor was hit nine times. He underwent emergency surgeries, including a leg amputation, but the trauma was too severe. A week later, his family made the agonizing decision to remove him from life support.
Who Was Victor Perez?
Victor wasn’t a threat. He was a teenager with cerebral palsy. He loved wrestling, french fries, and had a kind heart. He had a hard time walking straight—not because he was intoxicated, but because of his disability.
Victor couldn’t speak for himself. And when police saw him, they didn’t see a child in need—they saw a threat. And they acted like it.
What’s Being Done?
The officers involved have been placed on administrative leave. The Eastern Idaho Critical Incident Task Force is reviewing the incident.
But let’s be real: we’ve heard this before.
Investigations. Leave. Statements. No accountability.
This is why we say it, again and again: we need alternatives.
There Is a Better Way
Programs like CAHOOTS in Eugene, Oregon, and the Behavioral Crisis Response Team in Minneapolis have shown there are better ways to respond to crises. These teams send trained, unarmed professionals—not officers with guns—to calls involving mental health, homelessness, and substance use.
They show up with compassion. Not weapons. And they save lives.
Victor should’ve gotten that kind of help. Not gunfire.
This Is Why We Always Film the Police
At Mr. Checkpoint, our mission has always been about accountability, transparency, and justice. Victor’s story is a painful reminder of why this matters so much.
We say it every day:
📲 Always film the police.
✊ Always stand for the people.
To Victor’s Family
To everyone mourning the loss of Victor Perez: our hearts are with you. We can’t imagine the pain, the loss, or the rage you must feel. No parent, sibling, or loved one should ever experience this kind of devastation.
We stand with you in grief. We stand with you in love. And we stand with you in demanding justice, accountability, and real change.
How You Can Help
💥 Demand mental health response teams in your city.
📢 Share Victor’s story using these keywords:
Victor Perez police shooting
Idaho autistic teen shot
Police kill disabled teen
Nonverbal autistic teen shot by police
Justice for Victor Perez
📷 Record the police—your footage could protect someone’s life.
💬 Talk about it—don’t let Victor’s name disappear from headlines.Victor was only 17. He didn’t get to grow up. He didn’t get the help he needed. He got bullets.
This can’t keep happening.
Always film the police. Always for the people.
— Mr. Checkpoint
