Police discovered Christina Yuna Lee fatally stabbed in her New York City apartment last Sunday, February 13.
Assamad Nash, a stranger to Lee, followed Lee into her apartment and stabbed her over 40 times early last Sunday morning. Her neighbors called 911 when they heard screaming, and police reported hearing a women’s voice telling them to go away as they tried to get inside the locked apartment. The voice was Nash impersonating the voice of a woman. Police found Lee in her bathtub. She succumbed to her injuries before they could get inside. Police found Nash hiding under a bed.
Lee graduated from Rutgers University in 2008. She worked at Splice, a collaborative music site, as a senior creative producer. The company posted a statement on Twitter that said, “Over the weekend, our beloved Christina Lee was senselessly murdered in her home.” The statement continued, “Our hearts are broken. Always dedicated to making beautiful and inclusive artwork, Christina is irreplaceable. As we start to process this tragedy, we ask that you remember Christina Lee as the magical person she was, always filled with joy. We wish peace upon her family in their grief.”
Loved ones described Lee and said, “She was full of life. She radiated positivity, joy, and love. She supported her friends in everything they did.”
Lee was 35 years old and Korean-American. Police have not yet identified if the killing was racially motivated, but it is disturbing for women and Asian-Americans.
The Asian population in America has faced an increase in racism since the beginning of the Covid-19 pandemic.
This murder comes on the heels of the killing of Michelle Go. A man pushed Go in front of a train at the Times Square subway station in January.
Nash had a previous arrest record and now faces charges of first-degree murder, sexually motivated burglary, and burglary.
Christina Lee Memorial Fund
A vigil was held for Lee held on Monday morning outside her apartment. Her loved ones have created a Go Fund Me in Lee’s honor to support the organizations that she strongly supported. Some of these include Planned Parenthood, Womankind, and Elizabeth Street Garden. It took less than a day to reach the original of raising $100,000. The most recent update states that the new goal is $300,000 to “support these organizations and others in the future.”
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