New Jersey police shoot and kill woman reportedly carrying knife during mental health incident

In Fort Lee, New Jersey, a tragic incident unfolded when police responded to a mental health crisis call and a woman was fatally shot in the chest by an officer, as reported by the state’s attorney general. The incident occurred around 1:25 a.m. on Sunday in Fort Lee, located across the Hudson River from New York. According to a statement from New Jersey Attorney General Matt Platkin, an individual phoned 911 alerting authorities that his sister, who was holding a knife, required assistance to go to the hospital.

Upon arrival at the scene, officers encountered two women behind a closed apartment door who instructed them not to enter and proceeded to shut the door. Despite the warning, the officers persisted by knocking and requesting entry. Eventually, they decided to breach the door, as mentioned by Platkin. As the caller’s sister advanced towards them, one of the officers discharged his weapon, striking her in the chest. She was swiftly transported to Englewood Hospital, where she was later pronounced dead. A knife was discovered at the scene following the incident.

The identities of the woman and the officer involved have not been disclosed. Requests for further details from Platkin’s office remain unanswered. According to a 2019 law, New Jersey’s attorney general is mandated to investigate fatalities involving law enforcement and present the findings to a grand jury.