POCATELLO, Idaho – The mother and grandmother of a 17-year-old boy have filed a civil rights lawsuit. The incident occurred on April 5 in Pocatello, drawing national attention.
The family claims Victor Perez, who had autism and cerebral palsy and was nonverbal, was unjustly shot by officers. Video footage shows police firing multiple shots at Perez, who was behind a waist-high chain-link fence.
Police reported that Perez was holding a kitchen knife and attempted to stab family members while intoxicated. However, the family contends that although Perez had a knife, he was not trying to harm anyone.
The lawsuit aims to address what the family sees as a misuse of force against Perez. The case has sparked discussions about police interactions with individuals with disabilities.
