Police Fatally Shoot Woman In Fort Lee After Call Of 'Mental Health Crisis': NJ Officials

BERGEN COUNTY, NJ — Police in Fort Lee fatally shot a woman early Sunday morning after her brother called police because she was having a "mental health crisis," New Jersey officials said.

The state Attorney General’s Office said in a release Sunday afternoon that they are investigating the shooting. They declined to release the woman's name at this time.

They said that according to a preliminary investigation, at approximately 1:25 a.m., Fort Lee police officers headed to The Pinnacle apartment complex on Main Street after a man called 911 reporting that his sister "was having a mental health crisis and needed to go to the hospital," according to the Attorney General's Office.

The caller said his sister was holding a knife, officials said.

The Attorney General's Office said in its release, "Upon arrival, an officer spoke to the caller outside of the apartment unit in the building’s hallway. The officer then opened the apartment door and observed two females; one appearing to be the sister and another female. The females told the officer not to come in, and shut the door. The officer stood outside knocking on the door asking the females to open the door as additional officers arrived."

They say that officers "breached the door."

The sister approached officers in the hallway, and an officer fired, striking her in the chest, according to officials.

"Officers provided immediate medical aid. The female who was shot was transported to Englewood Hospital, and pronounced deceased at approximately 1:58 a.m.," says the Attorney General's Office. "A knife was recovered at the scene."

These details are the first officially released about the incident. Patch will update this story when more details are available.

Just under a year ago, police in Jersey City were criticized when they fatally shot a man with a knife in that city, after his family called because he was having a mental health crisis. He had been released from a health care facility a week earlier, family said. Activists have stressed the need for better protocols when police respond to someone in crisis who needs help. READ MORE: Footage Released In Controversial Jersey City Police Shooting Of Andrew Washington

A 2019 state law requires the Attorney General’s Office to conduct an investigation of any person’s death that occurs during an encounter with a law enforcement officer. The results will be presented to a grand jury, who can determine if there's enough evidence for charges.

Officials said they will not release more information at this time.