ST. LOUIS - A year after St. Louis Police Officer David Lee was killed in the line of duty, his family continues to grapple with the loss as the man accused in his death faces a separate sentencing.

Officer David Lee, an 18-year veteran of the St. Louis Metropolitan Police Department (SLMPD), was killed in the line of duty on Sept. 22, 2022, when he was struck while responding to a crash on Interstate 70.

"It’s like it just happened! Everyday I wake up and I realize that I don’t have my big brother here anymore! So it’s been a rough year! It’s a new normal I’m still not used to," said Danielle Williams, Officer Lee's sister.

Officer Lee was recognized for his service in Jefferson City, and the St. Louis Metropolitan Police Department recently dedicated a new patrol car in his honor. Organizations like COPS and Mothers Against Drunk Driving have provided support to Lee's family.

Danielle expressed that the hardest moments are during the holidays when she expects to see her brother walk through the door. She is leaning on faith and the support from the SLMPD family as the pre-trial hearing for Officer Lee’s case approaches.

The family is preparing for the Oct. 21 pre-trial hearing, hoping for a verdict that brings justice for Officer Lee.

"Whatever this verdict is and I’m praying that it is what I want it to be. Nothing can bring my brother back! My brother was an amazing person," Danielle said.

All facts in this report were gathered by journalists employed by KTVI. Artificial intelligence tools were used to reformat from a broadcast script into a news article for our website. This report was edited and fact-checked by KTVI staff before being published.