The fatal police shooting of a 26-year-old Korean American woman has sparked demands for changes in how authorities handle mental health crises. Victoria Lee’s friends and Asian American activists rallied in front of a Fort Lee community center on Thursday, urging officials to release body camera footage of the incident.
Amber Reed, co-executive director of AAPI Montclair, emphasized the need for a swift and transparent investigation. “They deserve at least that from this state that has failed them so terribly,” Reed said.
Lee died early on July 28 after her family called 911, reporting she was holding a knife and needed medical assistance due to a mental health crisis, according to the Attorney General’s Office. When officers arrived, they forced their way into the apartment after the family attempted to block them. Lee reportedly approached the officers in a hallway, and Officer Tony Pickens Jr. fired a single shot, killing her.
The Attorney General’s Office is investigating the shooting, as it does with all fatal police-involved incidents.
Lee’s family disputes the official account, claiming she was holding a five-gallon water jug, not a knife, when she was shot. Henry Cho, the family’s attorney, expects the body camera footage to be released after the family reviews it, likely on Friday. Cho also mentioned plans to file a wrongful death lawsuit against the officer and Fort Lee, though the family is still coming to terms with the event.
“They are still very upset, agitated, and crying so much,” Cho said. “We just want to pray for them. That’s all we can do right now.”
Supporters of Lee’s family are calling on Fort Lee to join the state’s Arrive Together program, which pairs police officers with mental health experts during certain emergency responses. More than 200 departments, including seven in Bergen County, currently participate in the program.
Others advocate for a broader overhaul of mental health crisis responses, suggesting that social workers or mental health professionals should handle these calls instead of police. Yannick Wood of the New Jersey Institute for Social Justice described Lee’s death as a “latest example” of police using deadly force when a compassionate, clinical response was needed. Wood also referenced the deaths of Najee Seabrooks and Andrew Washington, who were shot by police during mental health crises.
Wood urged officials to fully implement the Seabrooks-Washington Community-Led Response Act, which established a state advisory council to determine best practices for emergency responses. Despite the law requiring the council to meet within 45 days of the bill’s signing, the 13-member council has yet to convene, according to northjersey.com.
Zellie Thomas, an organizer with Black Lives Matter Paterson, said many families are now afraid to call 911 for help due to concerns about police responses. “When you call 911 for help, you should get help and not bullets,” Thomas said. “It doesn’t matter if you are armed or unarmed.”
Tara Oliver, a spokeswoman for the Attorney General’s Office, which oversees the Arrive Together program, noted that over 50% of New Jersey residents live in municipalities served by the program. The state aims to expand the program to cover all residents. The current budget includes $20.1 million to fund this expansion, Oliver said.
