BOISE, ID – The Idaho Attorney General’s Office announced Wednesday it will not file criminal charges against four Pocatello Police Department officers involved in the April 5, 2025, shooting death of 17-year-old Victor Perez.
Attorney General Raúl Labrador’s office reviewed the case at the request of the Bannock County Prosecutor. The Eastern Idaho Critical Incident Task Force, led by the Bannock County Sheriff’s Office, investigated the incident. Their findings, along with an autopsy report completed in August, were forwarded to the state for review.
According to the Attorney General’s Letter, officers responded to a 911 call reporting that a male appeared intoxicated, armed with a knife, and attempting to stab others in a backyard. Dispatch relayed this information to officers, but neither the caller nor responding law enforcement knew Perez’s age or that he was autistic, nonverbal, and living with developmental delays and other medical conditions.
When officers arrived, they found Perez in his backyard holding a large kitchen knife. Body camera footage reviewed by investigators showed that officers gave repeated commands for Perez to drop the knife. He failed to comply, stood up, and began moving toward them while holding the weapon. Three officers fired their Glock handguns, and one officer fired a less-lethal shotgun loaded with beanbags. In less than two seconds, a single volley of 14 bullets and one beanbag round was discharged. The autopsy later documented 12 gunshot wounds. Perez was hospitalized and died six days later from his injuries.
The Attorney General’s Office said its review was limited to whether the State could prove beyond a reasonable doubt that the officers’ use of force was not justified under Idaho law. Officials concluded the evidence would not support a criminal prosecution.
A use-of-force expert retained by the state determined that a reasonable officer in the same circumstances would have perceived Perez as an immediate threat. Idaho’s “stand your ground” law also allows officers to use deadly force without retreat if they reasonably believe it necessary to protect themselves or others.
The Attorney General’s Office acknowledged the tragedy of the case and public concern about the outcome. “Our sympathies go out to the family and friends of Victor Perez,” the letter stated. “If the officers had known what we now know, our conclusions might be different. But our decision must be based only on what the officers knew at the time and the laws in effect”.
The Pocatello Police Department has conducted an internal investigation into policy compliance, and civil litigation over the shooting remains pending.
