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.
Lee’s family maintains she was not wielding the knife at the moment of shooting, countering the narrative pushed by law enforcement. "There was no threat. She was clearly not any danger to anyone inside," stressed Amber Reed from AAPI NJ, who claimed the responding officers entirely mismanaged the crisis.
This devastating incident highlights the increasingly common theme of police violence against individuals experiencing mental health crises, especially within the AAPI community. Lee is the latest name added to this alarming list, which includes 16-year-old Easter Leafa and 19-year-old Win Rosario, both who tragically died when police were dispatched to manage their crisis situations.
Statistical studies underscore the tragedy, showing individuals facing mental health issues are 16 times more likely to be killed by law enforcement. According to Reed, this calls for immediate change within police protocols: "It's urgent to move quickly and invest more. We need to rethink how we handle mental health crises before more lives are lost. "
Stop AAPI Hate and other community organizations have called for accountability and transparency following Lee’s death, particularly demanding a comprehensive investigation. Despite the footage's release, the family has shared they have received scant information from the Fort Lee Police Department about the events surrounding the shooting.
Victims of such incidents often face isolation, heightening their distress. Many mental health crises can lead families to hesitate when seeking help, fearing the response might lead to tragic outcomes, as evidenced by Lee's case.
Subsequently, community leaders are advocating for structural changes within law enforcement, emphasizing the necessity for mental health professionals to be first responders during crisis situations. Programs like Oregon’s CAHOOTS, which allows trained mental health responders to be the first on the scene, have shown promising results.
New Jersey has already initiated the ARRIVE Together program, yet questions linger as to why it wasn’t enacted when Lee's family made their 911 call. Advocates stress the importance of ensuring adequate mental health responses to prevent tragedies like this from recurring.
One critical piece of legislation being pushed for is the Seabrooks-Washington Community-Lead Crisis Response Act, aimed at reducing police-involved fatalities during mental health crises. The law was passed earlier this year but has yet to be fully operationalized.
Victoria Lee’s tragic death couldn't have come at a worse time as it exposes the severe gaps within our approach to mental health-related crises and police interactions. Many community members voiced their concerns over these events mentioning how this will deter individuals from calling for help, fearing for their safety instead.
The pain and heartbreak felt by Lee's family and community continue to resonate widely, amplifying calls for change and accountability. Advocacy groups assert, "New Jersey must not tolerate systemic failures leading to more lives lost. Victoria should still be alive today, and we must demand better from our emergency response systems."
Pressure is mounting on local officials and police departments to address the glaring issues at play within mental health crisis responses. Advocacy and community action will be key as they aim to prevent the same mistakes from being repeated and to protect those who find themselves struggling with mental health issues.
The actions of law enforcement during these emergencies must be reevaluated. Lives hang in the balance and the time for change is now, to honor Victoria Lee and countless others affected by similar tragedies.