Man sentenced in Chinatown stabbing of Christina Yuna Lee

NEW YORK -- The man convicted of murdering Christina Yuna Lee after following her into her Chinatown apartment in 2022 was sentenced to 30 years-to-life in prison Tuesday.

Assamad Nash, 27, pleaded guilty last month in the case that shocked the city and the AAPI community , as hate crimes spiked during the pandemic. He was sentenced to 25 years for murder and five years for the sexually motivated burglary, with the possibility of parole after those 30 years.

Lee's father and aunt had asked the judge to impose the maximum sentence, and the judge did just that, citing "serious mental deficiencies" that cannot be cured with medication.

Nash, whose hands were restricted from moving even within handcuffs, showed no emotion and didn't speak.

Lee's father read a statement from the family outside the courthouse, saying, in part, "Her murder was horrific, and no amount of sentencing can ever be of comfort to Christina, who died unjustly, or to her family, who are dealing with the consequences of unbearable pain."

Watch the full press conference with reaction from Lee's family and community advocates here.

Deadly stabbing of Christina Yuna Lee in Chinatown

Police said Nash followed Lee into her Chrystie Street apartment, then up six flights of stairs, where he pushed his way into her unit. Authorities said Nash tried to sexually assault Lee and she grabbed a kitchen knife to defend herself, but he eventually used it against her.

Neighbors called 911 after hearing screams for help. Lee was later found in the bathroom with at least 40 stab wounds, while Nash hid under the bed.

Prosecutors said Nash also had cuts on his torso and hands, likely from Lee fighting him off.

"Christina Yuna Lee was killed in an unthinkably horrific manner in her own apartment at the hands of Assamad Nash," Manahttan District Attorney Bragg said in a statement after the sentencing. "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 everyone that has been touched by Ms. Yuna Lee's life and this tragedy. May her legacy be celebrated for years to come."

Nash was out on supervised release and had four open cases at the time, including allegedly attacking a stranger on the subway. He was homeless and had a history of crimes also in New Jersey and as a juvenile.

Family calls for shelter in her name

Lee was a 35-year-old Rutgers University graduate who moved to New York City only a year before she was killed. She worked as a creative producer and was remembered as a champion of AAPI representation.

Her murder sparked outrage from the community, raising concerns over how the city addresses homelessness and mental illness.

\In their statement after the sentencing, her family criticized bail reform for putting Nash back on the street, as well as the police response on the scene.

According to the criminal complaint, when officers arrived, Nash imitated a woman's voice and said they didn't need any help. About an hour later, officers broke down the door and found Lee dead.

"The police did not gain entrance to the scene of the crime until one hour and 20 minutes had past," said Lee's father, Sung Kon Lee.

The NYPD declined to comment, citing pending litigation filed by the family against the city.

The family said it hopes to have a shelter named in their daughter's honor.

"What my family wants is not compensation. What we really want is Christina's memory to be remembered and to prevent others from having a similar fate," her father read. "That is why we are asking the New York City mayor to name one homeless shelter in New York City as the Christina Yuna Lee Memorial Shelter."

Lee's aunt, Boksun Lee, was in the courtroom for the sentencing, facing Nash for the first time.

"I want to see him ... I've missed her very much. I've missed her. I'm waiting for her, whenever she comes, whenever I go to see her," Boksun Lee said.

She said Lee's mother and daughter were too distraught to attend.