Seventeen-year-old Victor Perez, who has cerebral palsy and limited English skills, was shot nine times by police in his front yard in Pocatello, Idaho, after experiencing a mental health crisis and brandishing a knife. He is currently in critical condition in the hospital, with one leg amputated. Eyewitness video shows him being shot after failing to comply with police commands to drop the knife. His family describes him as having the mental capacity of a 5-year-old, and they were able to control him during episodes of agitation. Police claim they were responding to a reported physical disturbance involving Perez and two others, one of whom was intoxicated and in possession of a knife. The police chief defended the officers’ actions, stating that they had to make split-second decisions in a rapidly evolving situation. The shooting has caused outrage in the community, with protests outside the police department. Some residents question the use of force in the situation, believing that Perez was not an immediate threat. The incident is under investigation by the East Idaho Critical Incident Task Force and the Pocatello Police. Police maintain that they acted in accordance with the threat perceived at the time, providing life-saving treatment to Perez after he was shot. The community is demanding answers and accountability from law enforcement regarding the shooting of Perez.
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