Mercer Times

The Attorney General’s Office has released footage from police body-worn cameras and audio recordings of two 911 calls related to the fatal shooting of Victoria G. Lee, 25, in Fort Lee, New Jersey, on July 28, 2024. The incident involved Fort Lee Police Officer Tony Pickens, Jr.

The investigation is being conducted by the Office of Public Integrity and Accountability (OPIA). The release of these recordings follows policies established by the Attorney General’s Office in 2019 to ensure fair and transparent investigations of fatal police encounters. Investigators had previously reviewed the recordings with representatives of Ms. Lee’s family.

According to the investigation, police officers responded at approximately 1:25 a.m. on July 28 to a home in “The Pinnacle” apartment complex on Main Street after receiving two 911 calls from a man reporting that his sister was experiencing a mental health crisis and needed to be taken to Valley Hospital in Paramus.

During the first call, the dispatcher informed the caller that an ambulance and police officer would be sent. When the caller indicated that only an ambulance was necessary, the dispatcher explained that officers must accompany ambulance personnel for safety reasons during mental health calls.

In a second call, the man initially requested to cancel the call but was told that mental health calls could not be canceled and that officers would arrive shortly. The man then revealed that his sister had a knife. The dispatcher confirmed this information and asked if she was trying to harm anyone or just holding it. The caller stated she was just holding it and described it as a "foldable" knife.

Upon arrival at the apartment, Officer Tony Pickens, Jr. spoke with the caller in the hallway before opening the apartment door where he observed Ms. Lee and her mother inside. They instructed him not to enter and shut the door. Officer Pickens continued knocking and asking them to open it as additional officers arrived. After no compliance from inside, Officer Pickens warned through the door that he would have to break it down. Ms. Lee responded with a threat: “Go ahead, I’ll stab you in the fucking neck.”

After discussing roles among themselves regarding lethal and less-lethal duties, officers breached the door. As Ms. Lee approached them holding a knife despite commands to drop it, Officer Pickens fired one shot hitting her in the chest. Officers provided immediate medical aid before transporting Ms. Lee to Englewood Hospital where she was pronounced dead at approximately 1:58 a.m.

New Jersey law requires that any death occurring during an encounter with law enforcement be investigated by the Attorney General’s Office and presented to a grand jury for potential indictment of involved officers.

The investigation remains ongoing with no further details available at this time.

Further information about investigations into fatal police encounters under New Jersey's Independent Prosecutor Directive can be found on the Attorney General’s website.