35-year old woman was stabbed to death in her apartment in New York City’s Chinatown neighbourhood. According to CBS News, Assamad Nash (25-year-old) has been charged with murder and burglary in the case of Christina Yuna Lee’s death.
On Sunday morning, Lee entered her building at Chrystie Street. According to reports, Nash followed her up six flights stairs. According to Brian Chin, the building owner, she didn’t realize he was there.
According to CBS New York, Nash allegedly tried to push his way into her apartment. Neighbors heard the screaming and dial 911.
According to CBS News, police found a person barricaded and could not gain entry into the apartment immediately after arriving. Emergency Service Unit personnel arrived and were able get in. Officers found Lee in the bathroom with injuries all over the body.
Lee was declared dead by emergency medical personnel on the spot. According to NYPD, the investigation is continuing. Nash was detained Monday, his eighth arrest since May 2021.
According to CBS New York, there is no connection between Lee and Nash. Multiple stab wounds were sustained and it is believed that a knife taken from her kitchen was used.
Lee moved from New Jersey to New York City last year. According to CBS New York, she is a Rutgers University graduate and was a creative producer.
She has done nothing wrong. She made one mistake, and that was moving to New York City. But, her city allowed her to die in violence,” Justin Yu, president, Chinese Consolidated Benevolent Association, said. “Crime does not have any consequence in this city.
According to CBS New York, coworkers claimed that Lee was a champion for AAPI representation. Ben Wei, a community activist, said that Lee was a leader at her company and led diversity causes and inclusion causes.
Attacks on Asian Americans shot up during the pandemic.
According to data from StopAAPI Hate, nearly 65% of anti Asian hate incidents were reported by women between March 2020 and March 2021. According to the advocacy group, there were 6,603 hate incidents. This broad term can encompass hate crimes like physical assaults, but also verbal and internet harassment and civil rights violations.
NYPD data shows that New York City saw 131 hate crimes against Asian Americans last year.
Although Nash has not been charged with hate crimes, many residents of Chinatown are concerned about becoming victims. “I am afraid to cross the street. Grace Lee, CBS New York: “I’m afraid to walk around with the girls.”
Jacky Wong, who is a member of Concerned Citizens of East Broadway said that the list of attacks on Asian Americans keeps getting “longer.”
He said that he knew the Lee family had lost a loved-one and shared their grief to CBS New York.
Wong stated that she didn’t want to jump to conclusion that Christina was also a victim to hate crime as it is still pending. “But this is another Asian American victim of hate crime. Worse, she was attacked in her own home. This just breaks down our community.”
The 40-year old Michelle Go, a resident from the Upper West Side of Manhattan, was pushed onto the subway tracks last month. CBS New York reports that Go, a businesswoman, spent the last 10 years helping at-risk individuals get back on track.
Martial Simon (61), is being charged with murder for pushing Go after first trying to push another woman.
Another attack on an Asian American woman occurred in June last year. It was captured on camera at the city’s Chinatown neighbourhood. Video shows a man walking up to the woman in broad daylight and punching her.
CBS New York reported that the suspect was taken into custody and charged with assault in a hate crime.
CBS News reports that in May, two Asian-American woman walking near Times Square were approached and attacked by a suspect who hit one of them with a hammer. The incident was investigated by CBS News as a hate crime. Ebony Jackson was charged with assault, criminal possess of a weapon, and menacing.
