In a tragic incident that has reignited debates on police use of force, a 26-year-old Korean-American woman suffering from bipolar disorder was fatally shot by police in New Jersey. This shocking event comes just three months after a similar case in Los Angeles, where another Korean-American with bipolar disorder died from police gunfire.
On July 28th, at approximately 1:25 AM, the victim, identified only as Ms. Lee, was killed by a police officer who responded to a 911 call at her Fort Lee apartment. The family had initially requested an ambulance to transport Ms. Lee to her regular hospital due to a mild manic episode. However, only police officers arrived at the scene.
In a chilling turn of events, Ms. Lee’s brother made a second 911 call, explicitly informing dispatchers that his sister was holding a small pocket knife used for opening packages. He emphasized its small size and requested that police not enter the residence. Despite this clear communication, 911 operators insisted that police intervention was necessary for mental health-related incidents.
The family, hoping to prevent escalation, didn’t immediately open the door for police, waiting for Ms. Lee to calm down. They stress that she had no history of violence, and the knife was not intended as a threat. However, in a shocking breach of protocol, police forcibly entered the apartment by breaking down the front door.
Upon entry, officers encountered Ms. Lee near the entrance, holding a 5-gallon water jug. Without apparent provocation or attempt at de-escalation, an officer fired a single shot, striking Ms. Lee in the chest. Despite assurances to her mother that Ms. Lee was alive and en route to the hospital, she was pronounced dead at 1:58 AM.
The New Jersey prosecutor’s office reported recovering a knife at the scene. However, the family contends that when police broke in, the pocket knife was already on the floor, not in Ms. Lee’s possession. They believe she picked up the water jug out of fear when hearing the door being forced open.
This incident has sparked outrage over what appears to be a severe overreaction by law enforcement. Critics argue that despite clear advance warning about Ms. Lee’s condition and the absence of any threatening behavior, police failed to properly assess the situation before resorting to deadly force.
The New Jersey prosecutor’s office has identified the officer who fired the fatal shot as Tony Pickens Jr. and stated that an investigation into the legality of the police response is underway, as per standard procedure.
Ms. Lee’s family paints a picture of a young woman who, despite struggling with mental health issues that led her to pause her studies in 2021, was actively managing her condition through travel, music, and time with her dog. She had even recently started working at a music studio in Manhattan, showcasing her deep passion for music.
This tragic loss of a promising young life has once again thrust the issues of police training, mental health response, and use of force into the national spotlight, leaving a community in mourning and demanding answers.
