The family of the woman from New York who was stabbed more than forty times after being followed into her apartment has filed a suit accusing police of standing by her door idly as she was killed.
Christina Yuna Lee died on February 13, 2022 in her Chinatown apartment, Manhattan.
Assamad Nash, according to police reports, followed Lee into the apartment at 4:20 am. He followed her stealthily up six flights and forced entry. Authorities said that once inside her apartment, Nash repeatedly stabbed Lee. Nash has denied murder charges and other charges.
Boksun Lee (Lee’s aunt) and the administrator of her estate filed a complaint in New York County Supreme Court on May 12, accusing members of the NYPD for their slow response time and failure to provide immediate treatment.
NYPD said on Friday that it would not comment on this case due to pending litigation.
The suit claims that neighbors called 911 when they heard Lee’s screams. One of these calls was received at 4:22 in the morning.
The complaint stated that three minutes later two members of the NYPD, who were not named, from the 5th Precinct located approximately three blocks away from Lee’s home, came to Lee’s house and heard her screaming for help, “until suddenly she stopped screaming.”
The complaint stated that instead of breaking into Nash’s unit, the officers talked to him through the closed doors.
The complaint stated that despite having reason to believe that Ms. Lee was in immediate danger, the officers “failed” to enter Ms. Lee’s apartment at the time or provide any other potentially life-saving medical or police assistance.
The complaint stated that seven other officers of the NYPD had arrived at 5:30 am, more than an hour later after a neighbor dialed 911 and first officers heard her screaming.
The lawsuit stated that at 5:40 am, one hour and twenty minutes after Lee had been attacked, members of the NYPD Emergency Services Unit entered Lee’s apartment.
According to the lawsuit, she was fatally stabbed at 5:55 am and declared dead.
The complaint stated that the NYPD officers who responded to the incident “denied or/or delayed reasonably providing Ms. Lee emergency medical care and police assistance, causing her pain and resulting in her death.”
The lawsuit also claimed that New York City failed to maintain Sara D. Roosevelt Park near Lee’s home, which was in “significant conditions for public safety.”
The complaint mentioned a stabbing that occurred just outside the park on Oct. 16, 2021. Documents in court stated that the “dangerous” conditions of the public park operated and maintained by the city contributed to the suffering and harm suffered by Lee.
The Legal Department of New York City did not respond to a comment request immediately.
The lawsuit alleges negligent hiring, screening and retention of officers, as well as negligent supervision, training and supervision. The suit also claims that defendants violated New York State Constitution by denying Lee her life without due legal process.
The family wants a jury trial and punitive damages, as well as unspecified compensatory damage.
Variety said that Lee, who graduated from Rutgers University, was a senior producer at Splice.
Nash was accused of first-degree murder and burglary with sexual motivation. In March 2022, he pleaded guilty.
The prosecution said Nash was a well-known figure in New Jersey, and at the time Lee was killed he had three cases open that were on supervised release. He could face a life sentence without parole if convicted.
