Manhattan District Attorney Alvin L. Bragg, Jr. announced today that Assamad Nash has pleaded guilty to the murder of 35-year-old Christina Yuna Lee, who was fatally stabbed in her Chinatown apartment in New York on February 13, 2022.
Nash was charged with Murder in the Second Degree and Burglary in the First Degree as a Sexually Motivated Felony. He is scheduled for sentencing on July 30, 2024, and is expected to receive a sentence of 30 years to life in state prison.
District Attorney Bragg stated, “Today Assamad Nash was held accountable for senselessly taking Christina Yuna Lee’s life after he followed her into her own home. Ms. Yuna Lee’s family and loved ones were deprived of a daughter, sister, and friend. My thoughts are with her family and our community as they continue healing from this tragedy.”
Lee entered her apartment building near Grand Street and Chrystie Street at around 4:20 a.m. on February 13, 2022. Nash followed her into the building, up six flights of stairs, then proceeded to push his way through her apartment door and attempt to sexually assault her.
Soon after, at 4:22 a.m. Lee’s neighbors called 911 after hearing what sounded like a struggle and her cries for help.
Police were unable to enter the building till approximately 5:40 a.m. where they found Nash hiding under Lee’s bed and a bloodied kitchen knife, which was hidden behind a dresser. They then found Lee in the bathroom. She was pronounced dead at the scene with at least 40 stab wounds to her head, neck, and torso.
Before the deadly attack on Lee, Nash had a history of arrests, including accusations of assault and harassment, according to court documents obtained by Spectrum News NY 1.
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