Snipers Placed On Roof To Monitor Protestors In Pocatello

Protestors in Pocatello continue to make their voices heard as the community mourns the passing of 17-year-old Victor Perez, who died from gunshots in an incident with police that took place on April 5th.

As the investigation continues, however, frustration in the community continues to grow, and federal officials have taken notice.

The Pocatello Community Wants Answers

According to a press release from the City of Pocatello that was last modified on April 11th, officers reportedly responded to "an individual armed with a knife, in the area of North Harrison Avenue."

"During the encounter, officers used lethal force on the individual," the press release says.

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"Immediate life-saving measures were initiated by officers on the individual, who was subsequently transported by ambulance to Portneuf Medical Center by the Pocatello Fire Department. That individual was later determined to be Victor Perez."

As video of the incident began to go viral, public outrage continued to grow, with many demanding answers from the department.

Protests In Pocatello

As the amazing team at KTVB reported, protests continue to take place in Pocatello. They also reported that an FBI warning led to officials assigning police to the rooftops of Pocatello City Hall.

Footage taken from the site of the protests shows a surreal scene with officers set up on top of the rooftop with rifles, monitoring the situation.

Is The Rooftop Police Presence Necessary In Pocatello?

It's understandable to see how some people might view snipers on a building at a protest as threatening or intimidating, but think about the situation the community is dealing with.

Tensions are high, and people are experiencing a lot of emotions that could make them act on those feelings. The last thing the community needs is for someone to do something they shouldn't (and would regret) and for police not to be ready to contain the situation before things turn chaotic.

ALSO READ: Have You Seen Him? Teen Escapes Idaho Police On E-Bike

Also, in recent weeks, we've seen protests take place at different Tesla dealerships that have led to criminal activity, including vandalism.

So while the rooftop police presence might be a sad and surreal thing to witness, in today's climate, it's totally understandable.

What do you think? Share your thoughts and opinions with us HERE.