Community members expressed shock and outrage after watching the bodycam footage released from the police shooting of Victoria Lee, who died under troubling circumstances on July 28. The New Jersey Attorney General’s office revealed this footage on Friday following pressure from Lee’s family and various AAPI community organizations.
At only 25 years old, Lee, who was experiencing a mental health crisis, was shot within minutes of officers arriving at her Fort Lee home. Her family had called 911 seeking medical assistance, requesting EMTs to help rather than law enforcement, which was tragically ignored.
The footage has raised serious concerns about police conduct during mental health emergencies, especially as Lee’s family repeatedly urged officers not to send police. “I was completely sickened and outraged by the disturbing actions of the Fort Lee police,” stated Manjusha Kulkarni, Executive Director of AAPI Equity Alliance.
Kulkarni and community advocates are calling attention to what they see as tragic failures within law enforcement. “There’s no question Victoria should be alive today,” she added, stressing how the footage confirms fears of the unjust nature of the police actions taken against Lee.
During the 911 call, family members informed dispatchers about Lee’s state and mentioned she was holding a small foldable knife. Upon arriving, police demanded to know who had the knife and made entry attempts even as Lee’s family asked them to step back and allow medical personnel to handle the situation.
Footage depicts officers resorting to threats and aggression almost immediately, discussing whether to use lethal or non-lethal methods. Just three minutes after breaking down the door, Officer Tony Pickens Jr. fired upon Lee, who was still partially inside her home, holding only a plastic water jug.
