Idaho teen Victor Perez dies after police shooting, family removes life support

Victor Perez, a 17-year-old nonverbal autistic boy with cerebral palsy, died after being removed from life support following a shooting incident with police in Pocatello, Idaho. On April 5, police responded to reports of a man with a knife, mistaking Perez's staggered gait for intoxication; he was shot nine times within seconds of officers arriving on the scene. His family, who had been trying to assist him, criticized the police for their lack of de-escalation efforts, claiming the officers did not understand the situation. Community vigils have been held in support of Perez, highlighting concerns over police interactions with individuals with developmental disabilities. The officers involved remain on administrative leave as an independent investigation is underway to determine if charges will be filed. The incident has sparked outrage and calls for better training for law enforcement in handling similar cases.