NEW YORK (1010 WINS) — A 25-year-old man was indicted Wednesday with murder and other charges for fatally stabbing Christina Yuna Lee allegedly at least 40 times inside her Chinatown apartment last month.
Assamad Nash is charged with first-degree murder, first-degree burglary and first-degree sexually motivated burglary for the "brutal murder" of the 35-year-old, according to Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg.
According to court documents and testimony, Nash saw Yuna Lee in front of her apartment building at 111 Chrystie Street around 4:20 a.m. on Feb. 13. Yuna Lee was then followed into the building and up the six flights of stairs to her apartment by the defendant. As Yuna Lee opened the door, Nash ran up behind her and pushed his way into the apartment.
At approximately 4:22 a.m., the victims' neighbors called 911 after hearing the sounds of a struggle, including a female voice screaming for help. A few minutes later, police officers arrived outside the door of Yuna Lee's apartment and heard her calling for help inside, but they could not gain entry.
Nash then allegedly attempted to flee the apartment through the fire escape with a yellow object in his hand, but went back inside after seeing a police officer on the roof above him.
Around 5:40 a.m., officers broke down the apartment door and found the defendant hiding under the mattress and a bloodied yellow-handled kitchen knife hidden behind the dresser.
Yuna Lee was found with at least 40 stab wounds to the torso, head and neck.
Bragg heralded Wednesday's indictment as "the beginning of our pursuit of justice."
"Today’s indictment marks the beginning of our pursuit of justice in the name of Christina Yuna Lee, a bright and beloved New Yorker who should not have had her life cut short in such a violent, shocking manner in her own home," he said.
He added, "Ms. Yuna Lee’s death not only devastated her loved ones, but struck fear into the hearts of our AAPI neighbors, who have already suffered far too much pain in recent years. All New Yorkers deserve to be safe and secure, and we will ensure accountability for this senseless murder."
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