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Idaho teen shot by police is declared brain-dead, family says

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Idaho teen shot by police is declared brain-dead, family says


A 17-year-old Idaho boy with autism who was shot by police last weekend as he had a knife has been declared brain-dead, his aunt said Friday.

Victor Perez, who his family said is autistic and has cerebral palsy, was shot nine times by police officers in Pocatello after they responded to a neighbor’s call about someone with a knife on April 5, officials said.

Perez’ aunt, Ana Vazquez, confirmed to NBC News in a text message late Friday that the teenager was declared brain-dead.

NBC affiliate KPVI of Pocatello and other local outlets reported the condition earlier Friday, and the mayor of the city of around 56,000 said in a statement that he was saddened by the news.

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“Our thoughts and prayers are with the family and loved ones during this unimaginably difficult time. We recognize the pain and grief this incident has caused in our community,” Pocatello Mayor Brian Blad in a statement.

Perez was shot by police officers who responded to a 911 call at around 5:22 p.m that said there was someone with a knife and that others appeared to be trying to get the weapon from him, audio played by police following the shooting showed.

Vazquez said that there was a family barbecue, that family members had hidden a knife and that Perez has found it. She said that Perez’ sister was trying to get the knife from him, but that they were not in danger and there the 17-year-old was not posing a threat to them.

Police Chief Roger Schei said that officers repeatedly ordered Perez to drop the knife and that Perez stood up and advanced toward them while holding the weapon.

He said at a Monday news conference that the officers in situations like the one on April 5 have to make fast decisions not only about their own safety but the safety of others.

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“In this case, two individuals were within a few feet of an armed, non-compliant individual,” Schei said at a news conference Monday. “The risk was immediate, and the situation rapidly evolving.”

Vazquez said that officers did not take the time to ascertain the situation before firing on Perez. She said the teenager was in a mental health crisis.

A bystander recorded the shooting on video, and that shows officers ordering Perez to drop the knife, and Perez struggling to stand with the knife and then moving towards officers before they fire. In the video, there appears to be a chain-link fence between the officers and Perez.

There are criminal and internal investigations being conducting about the incident, the mayor’s office said. The Eastern Idaho Critical Incident Task Force is conducting an external investigation, it said.

The four officers involved were immediately placed on administrative leave after the incident, which is standard procedure after a shooting, the city said.

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Idaho

Obituary for Craig D Crystal at Eckersell Funeral Home

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Obituary for Craig D Crystal at Eckersell Funeral Home


Craig D. Crystal, 62, of Ririe, Idaho, passed away peacefully on May 13, 2025. Craig was born on August 17, 1962, in Burley, Idaho, to Gary Z. Crystal and Connie J. Fox Crystal Reed. He grew up in Shelley, Idaho, where he graduated from Shelley High School. He later attended



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Idaho

Obituary for Thomas Leonard Wichmann at Eckersell Funeral Home

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Obituary for Thomas Leonard Wichmann at Eckersell Funeral Home


Thomas Leonard Wichmann, 75, of Ririe, Idaho passed away Tuesday, May 13, 2025, at the Sage Grove Assisted Living in Rigby, Idaho. He was born on May 17, 1949, in Denver, Colorado, the son of Leonard Oscar Wichmann and Elizabeth Florence Lucas Wichmann. He was lucky enough to be a



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Idaho

Hunter mistakenly shoots Grizzly Bear in Northern Idaho

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Hunter mistakenly shoots Grizzly Bear in Northern Idaho


PRIEST LAKE, Idaho — On May 9th, a hunter mistakenly shot a Grizzly Bear, initially thinking it was a Black Bear.

The hunter was in the Priest Lake drainage in northern Idaho’s panhandle region when they killed the Grizzly Bear. After identifying the bear as a Grizzly, the hunter self-reported the illegal kill to the Citizens Against Poaching hotline. They are fully cooperating with authorities.

US Fish and Wildlife proposes management changes aimed at restoring Grizzly Bear populations in Idaho

Under federal and state laws, Grizzly Bears are a protected species, and Black Bear hunters are responsible for properly identifying their target before making a kill.

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All Idaho hunters with Black Bear tags are required to take a bear identification test to avoid such situations. According to Idaho Fish and Game, “Grizzlies typically have short, rounded ears, a dished facial profile, a prominent shoulder hump and 2-4 inch long claws.”

Although Grizzlies are generally considered rare in the State of Idaho, their range continues to grow across North America, and most recently, Idaho has experienced an uptick in the population of Grizzlies in portions of northern and eastern Idaho.





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