Relatives and Community Members Advocate for Naming Homeless Shelter in Honor of Christina Yuna Lee
Relatives of Christina Yuna Lee and members of the New York City Asian community urged lawmakers Tuesday to name a homeless shelter in memory of the late creative producer who was slaughtered by a vagrant in her Chinatown apartment.
Her father, Sungkon Lee, expressed his desire for the shelter to be named the “Christina Yuna Lee Memorial Shelter” in honor of his daughter, who was tragically killed by Assamad Nash in 2022.
“We want Christina’s memory to be remembered and to prevent others from experiencing a similar fate,” Sungkon said during a press conference following Nash’s sentencing to 30-years-to-life in prison in Manhattan Supreme Court.
“It will contribute to preventing recurrence of similar incidents in the future and it will be a way to honor and remember Christina,” he added.
Nash, who was homeless at the time, followed Christina into her Chrystie Street apartment and brutally stabbed her over 40 times in the early morning of Feb. 13, 2022.
In an interview with The Post, Sungkon Lee stated, “When homeless people see my daughter’s name, they will think about the incident.”
Charles Yoon, the attorney for the Lee family, emphasized that naming a shelter after Christina, who was of Korean-American descent, would ensure that people never forget about her tragic death.
Her death prompted community leaders to demand action from the city as attacks against Asian American Pacific Islander New Yorkers surged in 2022 during the COVID-19 pandemic.
“As much publicity as there is now, a few years down the line they may not remember,” Yoon stated.
“By having her name on the shelter, it will reinforce to people what happened and that it was perpetrated by someone who was homeless,” he added. “We want to honor her and memorialize her so that it doesn’t happen again.”
Gene Kang, a member of the Korean American Lawyers Association of Greater New York, expressed hope that the city would honor the family’s request with a homeless shelter in the Chinatown area.
“Asian Americans in the city continue to fear for their safety, and these attacks must stop,” Kang emphasized, urging prosecutors and law enforcement to “remain vigilant” in addressing attacks against Asian Americans.
Sungkon Lee also criticized the NYPD, accusing them of failing to assist his daughter despite her cries for help from inside her apartment. These allegations are part of a pending lawsuit against the department.
“The decisive cause of Christina’s death occurred at the scene of the incident. We believe that there was an inadequate response by the police who arrived. The first mission of NYC and its police is to protect the safety of its citizens,” Sungkon Lee stated.
“My family is currently pursuing a lawsuit against New York City. But what my family really wants is not compensation,” he continued. “Instead, we want Christina’s memory to be remembered and to prevent others from having a similar fate.”
