The New Jersey Attorney General’s Office is investigating a fatal police shooting at an apartment complex in Fort Lee early Sunday morning. According to officials, the incident occurred around 1:25 a.m. at The Pinnacle apartment complex on Main Street.
Police responded to a call from a man who reported his sister was experiencing a mental health crisis and needed to be taken to the hospital. The caller informed police that his sister had a knife.
Upon arrival, an officer spoke with the caller in the hallway outside the apartment and observed two women inside. The women refused to allow the officer entry and closed the door.
The officer remained outside and continued to request the women to open the door as more officers arrived. When the women did not comply, officers breached the door. Police officials stated that when the sister approached the officers in the hallway, one officer discharged a single shot, striking her in the chest.
The woman was transported to a nearby hospital where she was pronounced dead at approximately 1:58 a.m. Police recovered a knife at the scene.
Authorities have not released further details about the woman’s identity or confirmed whether she was armed with the knife at the time of the shooting. The investigation into the incident is ongoing, according to officials.