Chinatown stabbing: Man accused of stalking Asian-American woman to her apartment charged with murder
Christina Yuna Lee was stabbed to death inside her Chinatown apartment in the early hours of Sunday in what police believe to be a random attack
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A vigil is being held in honour of a woman who was followed into her New York City apartment and stabbed to death in one of the latest attacks against people of Asian descent.
Mourners gathered in Manhattan’s Chinatown neighbourhood on Monday morning to pay tribute to Christina Yuna Lee, a 35-year-old Korean-American creative producer.
Lee was killed early Sunday after chilling surveillance video showed a man, identified as 25-year-old Assamad Nash, following her into her building on Chrystie Street.
She was later found dead in her bathtub “bleeding from multiple wounds to the body” after a neighbour heard her screams and called 911.
Police said Mr Nash was discovered hiding under a bed in the apartment and was arrested. He is believed to have targeted Lee, who reportedly hailed from New Jersey, at random.
The NYPD charged Mr Nash with murder and burglary on Monday morning.
Lee’s murder sparked outcry across the city, marking one of the latest attacks against people of Asian descent.
Manhattan Borough President calls for action on ‘broken mental health system'
Manhattan Borough President has called for action on the “broken mental health system” following Lee’s killing.
Mark Levine took to Twitter on Sunday after he joined members of the Asian community in Chinatown in protest over her death.
“Joining with leaders from NYC’s Asian American communities to express our heartbreak and anger over this morning’s murder of a woman in Chinatown,” he tweeted.
“We are demanding action. Our broken mental health system must be fixed. We have to address the real fear in Chinatown and beyond.”
Watch the chilling video of suspect following victim into her home
Chilling surveillance footage captured the moment Lee was followed into her apartment building by her suspected killer.
The video, obtained by the New York Post from the victim’s landlord, shows Lee walking through the front door of her apartment block.
As the door starts closing, the suspect is seen pushing it open again and entering after her.
Footage from a different spot in the building shows the man walking a few steps behind Lee, following her to her apartment.
Victim stabbed with own kitchen knife
Lee is believed to have been stabbed to death with her own kitchen knife, it has been revealed.
Sources told the New York Post that police found a bloody kitchen knife inside the apartment in the aftermath of the attack.
They said investigators believe the knife came from the 35-year-old victim’s own kitchen.
It is not clear if the suspect was armed with any other weapons when he entered the home.
Both Mr Nash and Lee suffered stab wounds in the incident.
Previous alleged victim of suspect speaks out
A man who claims to be the victim of a previous random attack by the suspected killer has spoken out following Lee’s death.
David Elliott, 62, told New York Daily News that Nash punched him in the eye inside Grand Street station in Manhattan, close to the apartment were Lee was stabbed to death.
The incident unfolded back on 28 September when he said Nash grew angry at him for swiping a friend through the turnstile.
Mr Elliott said Nash, who has been charged with selling swipes on the subway, suddenly punched him in the eye.
“To tell the truth I didn’t really know what was going on,” he said.
“He had a problem because I was giving somebody a ride. He told me ‘You better not swipe her on.’ I just looked at him.”
Mr Elliott said he was “shocked” to recognise Nash as the man suspected of killing Lee.
“That son of a b****. I was kind of shocked. I didn’t think he was that much out there,” he said.
Mr Elliott said he needed four stitches on his forehead.
Nash was charged with misdemeanor assault and harassment over the incident.
He was due to appear in court on 9 March on the charges but has now been arrested and charged with Lee’s murder.
Suspect claims ‘I didn’t kill nobody'
The suspected murderer denied killing Lee as he was led to his arraignment on charges of murder and burglary on Monday.
“I didn’t kill nobody,” Nash said, according to CBS Local.
Footage shows Nash being led out of the NYPD’s 5th precinct in Manhattan on his way to his arraignment.
The suspect had a sweatshirt over his head as he was flanked by officers.
Suspect had three open criminal cases before Sunday’s attack
Nash had three open criminal cases pending against him and had been arrested four times in the last year alone, according to court records.
The first criminal case stems from an arrest on 23 September for selling swipes in Grand Street subway station - close to Lee’s apartment.
He was charged with a class B misdemeanour over that incident.
Just five days later, Nash was arrested on misdemeanour charges of assault, harassment and aggravated harassment for allegedly punching 62-year-old David Elliott at the subway station.
In both cases, the suspect was given a desk appearance ticket and freed.
Nash’s most recent case came from an arrest on 8 January for repeatedly vandalizing MetroCard vending machines across a number of Manhattan subway stations.
He was charged with 27 counts of criminal mischief, resisting arrest and attempting to escape police custody over that incident.
A judge placed Nash on supervised release in that case, meaning he was required to check in twice a month in person and once by phone.
This came just over one month before he was arrested and charged with Lee’s murder.
He was due to next appear in court on 9 March.