Assamad Nash, the man who brutally stabbed Christina Yuna Lee to death in her New York City apartment in February 2022, was sentenced to 30 years to life in prison on Tuesday, July 30, according to a Press release from Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg, Jr.
Nash, 27, pleaded guilty in June to murder and robbery charges. He admitted to stalking the 35-year-old woman before following her to her Chinatown apartment, where he stabbed her at least 40 times. The judge, taking into account Nash’s severe mental health issues, declared him a danger to society, according to police. Alphabet 7.
“Christina Yuna Lee was murdered in an unimaginably horrific manner in her own apartment at the hands of Assamad Nash,” Bragg wrote in the press release. “Ms. Yuna Lee was a creative, kind, and joyful person, and her death not only devastated her family, but left a lasting impact on an entire community. I hope the resolution of this case offers comfort and a sense of justice for all those affected by Ms. Yuna Lee’s life and this tragedy. May her legacy be celebrated for years to come.”
Lee was killed early in the morning on February 13, 2022, after Nash followed her to her sixth-floor walk-up apartment. When she entered around 4:20 a.m., Nash ran up and pushed her inside before attempting to sexually assault her. Christina’s cries for help prompted neighbors to call 911 at 4:22 a.m. Authorities arrived minutes later but were unable to break down the door until 5:40 a.m. Inside, they found Lee stabbed to death and Nash hiding under a mattress. She was pronounced dead at the scene.
During the sentencing, Lee’s father, Sungkon Lee, tearfully asked in his shocking statement, “Why did God do such terrible things to our family?” according to ABC 7. Her mother was not present at the sentencing as she is still dealing with the loss of her daughter, said Christina’s aunt, Boksun Lee.
After the sentencing, Sungkon urged lawmakers to name a new homeless shelter after him, according to The New York Post“We want to commemorate Christina and prevent others from suffering a similar fate,” Sungkon said.
“Having his name on the shelter will reinforce to people what happened and that it was perpetrated by someone who was homeless,” said the family’s attorney, Charles Yoon. The charge. “We want to honor her and commemorate her so that this never happens again.”
Sungkon also criticized the New York Police Department, accusing them of failing to save his daughter. “The police were not able to enter the crime scene until one hour and 20 minutes after they arrived at the scene,” he said.
“The decisive cause of Christina’s death occurred at the scene of the incident. We believe that the response of the police who arrived at the scene was inadequate. The first mission of the city of New York and its police is to protect the safety of its citizens,” Sungkon said.
The Lee family has filed a lawsuit against the department, which is still pending. Although they are pursuing legal action, Sungkon stressed that the family “doesn’t really want compensation; instead, we want Christina’s memory to be remembered and to prevent other people from suffering a similar fate.”
If you or someone you know has been sexually assaulted, please contact the National Sexual Assault Hotline at 1-800-656-HOPE (4673) or visit en.rainn.org.