I am autistic and I do not agree with an autistic boy being killed. Police could have used non-lethal de-escalation tactics. A behavioral episode shouldn't be a death sentence, but that's exactly what it was for Victor Perez back in April. He was 17 years old, autistic, non-speaking, and had cerebral palsy. On the day it happened, Victor was outside with his family. He became upset, grabbed a knife, and began stumbling around his yard, prompting neighbors to call 911.

Despite his apparent distress and vulnerability, the response was tragically fatal. The Idaho Attorney General recently announced that there will be no criminal charges for the four officers involved. This decision is deeply concerning and raises several questions about the protocols used in handling individuals with disabilities.

Statistics show that one in five fatal police shootings involved a person with a mental illness or developmental disability. This troubling statistic underscores a systemic issue within law enforcement when dealing with people who may not respond predictably in high-stress situations.

Non-lethal methods and de-escalation tactics should be the first approach, especially when dealing with vulnerable individuals. It is crucial that our police force receives the proper training to recognize and manage these situations with the utmost care and sensitivity.

We demand accountability in Victor Perez's death. There must be a thorough review of the officers' actions during this tragic event. Our goal is to implement mandatory training for police officers in Idaho and nationwide to effectively handle situations involving individuals with disabilities with empathy and understanding.

Sign this petition to call for justice for Victor Perez and to insist on actionable reforms that prevent such tragedies from happening again. Let's ensure that no other family has to go through such a heartbreaking loss.