Current:Home > ContactBody cam video shows fatal Fort Lee police shooting unfolded in seconds -FundTrack
Body cam video shows fatal Fort Lee police shooting unfolded in seconds
View
Date:2025-04-15 12:25:32
TRENTON, N.J. (AP) — Newly released police video shows a Fort Lee, New Jersey, officer firing the single shot that killed a 25-year-old woman last month within seconds of police breaking down an apartment door and just after the woman threatened to stab them.
Five videos and two 911 calls released late last week show how quickly the episode unfolded after a call for mental health help. At one point, the woman’s family sought to call off police and have 911 send only an ambulance.
Fort Lee police officer Tony Pickens Jr. shot Victoria Lee shortly after police breeched the apartment door around 1 a.m., according to a statement from state Attorney General Matt Platkin. Lee was pronounced dead at a hospital shortly after.
The video showing the lead-up to the fatal shooting included an officer knocking on Lee’s door and then saying he was going to break it down.
“Go ahead. I’ll stab you” in the neck, a woman’s voice can be heard saying from behind the door.
“We don’t want to shoot you. We want to talk to you,” an officer replied.
Officers outside then discussed who among them would use lethal and less-than-lethal force, and the officer who knocked on the door then shoves it several times with his shoulder.
In the video, the door opens and officers yell for Lee to drop a knife. The video shows Lee holding a large water jug in her right hand that she swings toward the police. The gunshot came three seconds after the door opened and Lee then fell to the ground.
The video also shows a silver-bladed knife being tossed out of the apartment. It’s not clear where the knife was or who tossed it outside.
One of the 911 recordings that Platkin’s office released contains a man saying he needs help for his sister, who was in the midst of a mental health crisis. He said only an ambulance was needed, but the dispatcher said law enforcement would be sent to keep ambulance workers safe.
The man called back to ask if he could cancel the police, but was told the call couldn’t be canceled. Asked why he wanted to call it off, the man said his sister had a knife and described it as a small, foldable one.
A message was left Monday with an attorney representing Lee’s family as well as with the police union that represents officers in Fort Lee.
Under state law, Platkin is required to investigate the death and present findings to a grand jury to determined whether the officer who fired should be indicted.
veryGood! (3)
Related
- Apple iOS 18.2: What to know about top features, including Genmoji, AI updates
- That's not my cat... but, maybe I want it to be? Inside the cat distribution system
- Arizona governor negotiates pause in hauling of uranium ore across Navajo Nation
- How Noah Lyles plans to become track's greatest showman at Paris Olympics and beyond
- Travis Hunter, the 2
- Idaho prosecutor says he’ll seek death penalty against inmate accused of killing while on the lam
- Bird ignites fire in Colorado after it hits power lines, gets electrocuted: 'It happens'
- Aerosmith retires from touring, citing permanent damage to Steven Tyler’s voice last year
- Friday the 13th luck? 13 past Mega Millions jackpot wins in December. See top 10 lottery prizes
- Here’s Why Blake Lively Doesn’t Use Conditioner—And How Her Blake Brown Products Can Give You Iconic Hair
Ranking
- What to watch: O Jolie night
- Olympic women's soccer bracket: Standings and how to watch Paris Olympics quarterfinals
- S&P 500, Dow, Nasdaq end sharply lower as weak jobs report triggers recession fears
- NHL Hall of Famer Hašek says owners should ban Russian athletes during speech in Paris
- Head of the Federal Aviation Administration to resign, allowing Trump to pick his successor
- Judge rejects replacing counsel for man charged with shooting 3 Palestinian college students
- 2024 Olympics: Gymnast Stephen Nedoroscik win Bronze in Pommel Horse Final
- Olympic medal count: Tallying up gold, silver, bronze for each country in Paris
Recommendation
The Grammy nominee you need to hear: Esperanza Spalding
Mariah Carey is taking her Christmas music on tour again! See star's 2024 dates
How US women turned their fortunes in Olympic 3x3 basketball: 'Effing wanting it more'
Trinity Rodman plays the hero in USWNT victory over Japan — even if she doesn't remember
North Carolina justices rule for restaurants in COVID
MrBeast’s giant reality competition faces safety complaints from initial contestants
Olympic Athletes' Surprising Day Jobs, From Birthday Party Clown to Engineer
Warren Buffett surprises by slashing Berkshire Hathaway’s longtime Apple stake in second quarter