Woman Shot To Death By NJ Cops Was ‘Armed’ With Water Bottle: Family

BERGEN COUNTY, NJ — The family of a young woman shot to death by Fort Lee police last month says she was armed with a water bottle, not a knife, and that they just called 911 to get the victim to the hospital.

READ MORE: Attorney General Identifies Woman In 'Crisis' Who Was Fatally Shot By Police In Fort Lee

Victoria Lee, 26, was shot to death by a police officer at approximately 1:25 a.m. on Sunday, July 25, at her family's apartment in the Pinnacle building in Fort Lee, law enforcement officials have said.

Police came to the apartment after Lee's brother called 911 to say his sister was having a "mental health crisis" and needed help.

The New Jersey attorney general's office said they are investigating the shooting.

Last week, the family's lawyer submitted a summary of events to the Record of Hackensack in response to an article they were writing.

In the article, the family said that Lee was having a mental health crisis, rolling on her bed and banging her head. She refused to let them take her to the hospital, so her brother called 911 for an ambulance to take her to Valley Hospital, they said.

The family told the 911 operator that Lee had never been violent and police weren't needed. But the operator said police must always come in such a situation, the statement said.

At some point, Lee was holding a small pocketknife, but had put it down and picked up a water bottle before an officer shot her, the family said.

Because of other police shootings when families have called for help for relatives in a mental health crisis, AAPI New Jersey, the state’s largest Asian American advocacy group, released a statement as well.

'Clear How Vulnerable People Of Color Are'

They said : "We honor Victoria’s life and extend our deepest condolences to her family and loved ones. Victoria was experiencing a mental health crisis when her family called 911 requesting medical assistance and transportation to a local hospital.

"We join Victoria Lee’s family and other groups in calling for a thorough investigation by the NJ Attorney General’s Office and all relevant authorities of this incident and the practices of the Fort Lee Police Department. We also call on all state and local law enforcement agencies and first responders to work with mental health professionals and community groups to improve practices and protocols."

They cited the killings of Andrew Washington in Jersey City and Najee Seabrooks in Paterson.

"These killings, like too many others, make all too clear how vulnerable people of color are during confrontations with law enforcement," they wrote. "We are committed to working with communities and other groups to reduce unnecessary law enforcement involvement and prevent these incidents from occurring."

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