UPDATE

Victor Perez’s aunt Ana Vazquez confirmed to the Idaho State Journal on Saturday afternoon that Victor has passed away. Doctors at Portneuf Medical Center had removed him from life support Saturday morning after he was declared clinically brain dead on Friday.

ORIGINAL STORY

POCATELLO — The family of 17-year-old Victor Perez has reported that he is clinically brain dead after being shot by Pocatello police this past weekend.

The family contacted the Idaho State Journal Friday afternoon with the news.

Victor’s aunt Ana Vazquez said doctors at Portneuf Medical Center told the family that Victor was clinically brain dead around 2 p.m. Friday.

Fighting back tears, Vazquez said she’s not sure what the family will do next.

A prayer and candlelight vigil for Victor will be held outside of PMC at 9 a.m. Saturday.

Pocatello Mayor Brian Blad issued the following statement in response to the news about Victor’s condition: “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.”

Victor, who suffers from autism and cerebral palsy, was shot by Pocatello police officers on April 5 following a disturbance at his family’s North Harrison Avenue home. He was armed with a knife inside his family’s fenced-in yard when he was shot by responding Pocatello police, who were standing on the other side of the chain-link fence. Police fired approximately 12 shots at Victor after he took two steps toward them while wielding the knife.

The incident has received nationwide news coverage after videos showing the shooting began circulating on social media.

Victor’s family said he suffered nine gunshot wounds during the incident.

Victor was transported via ambulance to PMC after the shooting. He had received multiple surgeries at the hospital to save his life, including the amputation of one of his legs.