In a hospital bed at Portneuf Medical Center, 17-year-old Victor Alicea Perez clings to life, his body riddled with nine bullet wounds and one leg lost to amputation. The autistic teenager, who also lives with physical disabilities, was shot by Pocatello police officers on the evening of Saturday, April 5, 2025, in an incident that has plunged this small Idaho city into grief, outrage, and a desperate search for answers. What began as a routine response to a domestic disturbance call has spiraled into a community crisis, with protests erupting outside the Pocatello Police Department and a family left shattered by the violent turn of events.
The chain of events unfolded just after 5:25 p.m. when police received a 911 call reporting a disturbance at a home on North Harrison Street. The call described a tense situation involving two males—one reportedly intoxicated and wielding a knife—and a female. Officers arrived swiftly, only to encounter Victor outside the residence, holding a knife. Video footage that has since spread across social media captures the chilling moments that followed: officers shouting commands, their voices sharp and urgent, followed almost instantly by a barrage of gunfire. Within seconds, Victor lay wounded, struck multiple times by police bullets. The speed of the escalation has left many questioning how a situation involving a vulnerable teenager could end so catastrophically.
Victor’s injuries were severe. Rushed to Portneuf Medical Center, he underwent emergency surgery as doctors fought to save his life. The damage was so extensive that surgeons had no choice but to amputate one of his legs, a devastating blow to a young man already navigating the challenges of autism and physical impairment. His family has remained by his side, their anguish compounded by disbelief that the police response escalated to lethal force. According to his aunt, Ana Vazquez, Victor posed no real threat to the officers. She described him as a boy who struggled to walk, let alone attack, emphasizing that his behavioral challenges were a known part of his condition—not a justification for such violence.
The Pocatello Police Department has released only limited details, confirming that officers were “involved in a shooting” and that the East Idaho Critical Incident Task Force is now leading an investigation. This is standard protocol for officer-involved shootings in the region, intended to ensure an impartial review of the facts. In a brief statement, the department assured the public there is no ongoing danger but urged patience as the inquiry proceeds. Yet this measured response has failed to calm a community on edge. By Sunday afternoon, April 6, a crowd of roughly 50 protesters had gathered outside the police station, their signs demanding “Justice for Victor” and questioning why non-lethal options—like tasers—weren’t used instead.
The video evidence has fueled much of the public’s anger. In the brief, chaotic clip, the officers’ commands are clear, but the window for compliance appears vanishingly small before shots ring out. For Victor’s family and their supporters, this raises haunting questions: Did the officers know about his disabilities? Were they trained to recognize and de-escalate such encounters? Neighbors who made the initial 911 call have expressed regret, saying they sought help to calm a situation—not to trigger a deadly confrontation. Their shock mirrors that of a broader community now wrestling with the fallout.
Victor’s story has struck a deep chord in Pocatello, a city unaccustomed to such high-profile incidents. His condition—critical but stable as of the latest updates—remains a focal point for those who see him as a symbol of vulnerability met with excessive force. His family has spoken openly about his struggles, painting a picture of a teenager whose autism sometimes led to challenging behavior but who deserved protection, not punishment. They’ve called for the release of body camera footage, hoping it will shed light on what the widely circulated video cannot fully reveal.
Beyond Pocatello, the incident has caught the attention of advocacy groups focused on disability rights and police reform. They point to a troubling pattern across the country: individuals with mental health conditions or disabilities too often become casualties in police encounters, often due to inadequate training or a reliance on aggressive tactics. In Victor’s case, the presence of a knife has been cited as a complicating factor, but critics argue that his physical limitations and known vulnerabilities should have prompted a different approach. The debate has amplified calls for systemic change, with some urging a federal review of the shooting.
As the investigation unfolds, the Pocatello Police Department has withheld the names of the officers involved and declined to elaborate on the circumstances leading up to the gunfire. This silence has only deepened the community’s frustration, with many demanding transparency alongside accountability. Meanwhile, support for Victor and his family has surged. Local fundraisers have sprung up to help cover medical costs, and social media campaigns have kept his story alive, with hashtags like #JusticeForVictor gaining traction.
For now, the focus remains split between Victor’s fight for survival and the broader quest for justice. The investigation’s findings will be pivotal, determining whether the officers’ actions were within protocol or a tragic overreach. But for the people of Pocatello, the stakes feel higher than a single verdict. They’re grappling with a loss of trust, a wounded teenager, and a pressing need to ensure no other family endures this pain. As one protester put it, standing resolute outside the police station, “This isn’t just about Victor anymore—it’s about all of us.” The road ahead promises hard questions, raw emotions, and a community determined to find its way forward.