ANCOR Issues Statement in Wake of Idaho Tragedy Leaving Young Man with Autism in Critical Condition

ANCOR issued the following statement on April 11 in response to reports that a young man with autism and cerebral palsy in Idaho was shot by law enforcement, leaving him with one leg amputated and in critical condition.

“We are devastated to learn that a young man with autism and cerebral palsy, Victor Perez, was unnecessarily shot nine times by law enforcement earlier this week despite having posed no imminent danger to himself or those around him. Our hearts go out to Victor, his family and his community.

“Too often, people with intellectual and developmental disabilities are misunderstood by those who aren’t properly trained to support them. Sadly, what happened in Idaho is not an anomaly, as evidenced by the fact that people with disabilities make up 30-50% of individuals subject to police use of force despite representing only 20% of the U.S. population.

“Community providers can be essential partners in ensuring tragedies like the one in Pocatello don’t continue to devastate families and communities. Training first responders and law enforcement on the physical, emotional and communicative needs of people with intellectual and developmental disabilities is a moral imperative, so that tragedies like this never happen again. Victor Perez and his family deserved support and dignity, not violence.”