Body cam footage shows the deadly police shooting of Victoria Lee in Fort Lee, New Jersey.
The New Jersey attorney general’s office on Friday released a body cam video showing police officers shooting and killing Victoria Lee inside a Fort Lee apartment building in July.
FORT LEE MAYOR MARK SOKOLICH-PRESS RELEASE
(Officer Involved Fatality-July 28, 2024)
As we are all aware, our entire Fort Lee community experienced a most unfortunate and tragic
event on July 28th at approximately 1:30 am at which time an officer-involved shooting took place
resulting in the fatality of one of our residents. On behalf of the entire community, we extend our
deepest, most heartfelt condolences. At any time and whatever the circumstances, the loss of life
is tragic and impactful and I ask the entire community to keep the decedent, her family and our
officers and their families in your thoughts and prayers.
As your Mayor, I have always required a policy that promotes prompt, detailed and informative
communication with regular updates on any crisis or event impacting our entire community; at no
point is our role as community leaders more important than during times of crisis or tragedy and
it is during these most unfortunate events that communicating and informing the community must
always be the utmost priority. An indispensable part of “communication” is to also engage with
community groups and associations to discuss the events that transpired on July 28 to the extent
permitted by New Jersey law. I, along with members of the governing body, have engaged in
multiple meetings with various groups for purposes of responding to the many inquiries to the best
of our ability. While some may reach premature judgment relying on unsubstantiated facts, I ask
everyone to remain mindful that our Police Department is an accredited agency with law
enforcement officers who are well trained and maintain the highest of professional standards.
It is of critical importance that everyone is fully aware of the required procedures and protocols
that must be followed when dealing with an officer involved shooting such as the one that occurred
on July 28. Since 2019 New Jersey law[N.J.S.A. 52:17B-107(a)(2)}] requires that the New Jersey
Attorney General’s Office conduct a mandatory investigation of a person’s death that occurs
during an encounter with a law enforcement officer acting in the officer’s official capacity or while
the decedent is in custody. In fact, all such investigations are required to be presented to a grand
jury to determine, among other things, precisely the events that transpired and to confirm whether
proper protocol was followed under all of the circumstances involved. The investigation is
undertaken by the Office of Public Integrity and Accountability established by the Attorney
General’s Office. The Fort Lee Police Department, as well as the Bergen County Prosecutor’s
Office, in accordance with New Jersey law, are not involved nor are they permitted to be involved
in the investigation in any way and their directive is to only cooperate with the assigned
investigators.
The investigation by the Office of Public Integrity and Accountability commenced immediately
upon being dispatched to the decedent’s apartment in the early morning on July 28 and the
investigators are following the mandated protocols for this type of investigation which includes a
thorough review of the footage from all body worn cameras at the scene and the collection and
analysis of evidence. The investigators will likewise review the tapes of the 911 calls made that
evening, as well as a review of all circumstances that occurred prior to, during and after this officer
involved fatality to assist in determining whether the actions taken were warranted and in
accordance with mandatory protocols.
During this investigatory period all members of the Fort Lee Police Department are prohibited
from providing any information about the incident and have been directed to instruct all interested
parties to review the periodic Press Releases issued by the Attorney General’s Office. Hence, the
absence of any Press Releases, comments or statements from our own police department as our
officers are dutifully following New Jersey law and established protocol. It is the policy of my
office and that of the governing body to likewise follow the protocols established by the Attorney
General’s Office and we too direct all Press inquiries and questions from the community to the
Attorney General’s Office. I also ask that everyone keep in mind that since there is no local
involvement or participation in the ongoing investigation other than the directive to cooperate with
the investigators, we do not have much more information than what has already been published
and released by the Attorney General’s Office in its periodic Press Releases.
This past Monday, August 5 I had also convened a Special Meeting of the Fort Lee Mayor
& Council which was attended by Fort Lee Police Chief Matthew Hintze. The purpose of this
meeting was to ensure that myself and all members of our governing body have been provided
with all the information, facts and circumstances relating to this matter in accordance with the
mandatory parameters established by our Attorney General. Our Chief reconfirmed many of the
details which have already been released to the public and responded to our inquiries to the best of
his ability while always remaining within the constraints imposed by New Jersey law.
Our Special meeting was also convened so that myself and my colleagues on the governing body may be
instructed on how to address Press inquiries, questions from the residents we are sworn to serve
and to engage in a discussion as to “next steps” and expected timelines. Essentially, we were
advised that the investigation presently underway and overseen by the Office of Public Integrity
and Accountability will continue for some time and only conclude once all available evidence is
collected, considered and the Grand Jury reaches its conclusions. While we are all very anxious
and hopeful that the investigation is concluded as soon as possible, we have no indication as to
how long this process will take except that the investigators will need time to do their job in the
most efficient and professional manner possible.
I recognize the impact and emotional strain that this loss of life will have on many and I
implore everyone in our community to please remain patient and not rely on rumor, conjecture
and hearsay; rather allow the protocols that are in place to guide all of us through this most
emotional and difficult period. Our community’s most valuable asset is the unity and trust that
we have in each other and which has grown stronger and stronger through the years. We live
together, we raise our children together and we all call Fort Lee our home. I implore everyone to
remain patient during this investigation. Rest assured, when either myself or our police department
are permitted, you will be provided with information and updates on this matter.
In the interim, I respectfully call on everyone to keep at the forefront of your thoughts that Fort
Lee is a safe, loving, unified and law-abiding community and together we will get through this
most difficult period; and, not otherwise allow misinformation, innuendo and baseless speculation
to dictate or in any way influence your reaction to the tragic evening of July 28. God Bless the
decedent and her family, our officers and their families and all of you. Mayor Mark J. Sokolich