A Queens man, Justin Lee, age 22, was charged with a series of grave offenses following an alleged attempted rape of a 12-year-old girl in Brooklyn, as well as prior incidents involving minors earlier last month. On October 5th, Lee was apprehended and faces charges including attempted rape, strangulation, and burglary relating to the early-morning attack on October 4 within the southern Brooklyn's 60th Precinct, as reported by AM New York.
Details from the police source outline how Lee allegedly broke into the private residence, attempting to rape the young girl. The burglary charge arose from unlawful entry into the home, with the strangulation charge being a part of his actions taken "within the act." Lee is facing a daunting 18 counts related to the incident, including first-degree rape of a victim under 13, as stated in the court records. However, as of Wednesday evening, he had not been arraigned on those charges as scheduled.
These charges come in the wake of two separate incidents that occurred on September 26, when Lee was accused of following and assaulting two girls, 13 and 14 years old, in Kensington apartment buildings along Ocean Parkway. According to a PIX11 report, in the first attack, he allegedly grabbed a girl from behind by the neck and pushed her against the wall, with the latter involving a bear hug to another minor. Both victims screamed, prompting Lee to flee the scene.
Surveillance footage linked Lee to the September Episodes, where he stood accused of burglary, attempted burglary, and endangering the welfare of a child, among other offenses. Post his alleged confession where he said, "I scared a girl because I grabbed her," he plead not guilty to all counts during an arraignment for the September incidents. Shockingly, he was released without bail by Judge Christopher Whitehair on September 27, with a court appearance set for January 29, 2026, as reported by PIX11.
Amid the ongoing investigations, the NYPD urges anyone who might have been sexually abused by Lee to come forward. Those affected are encouraged to contact the NYPD Sex Crimes Hotline at 212-267-RAPE or the Crime Stoppers Hotline at 800-577-TIPS. Information can also be submitted online through various channels provided by the NYPD.
