Brooklyn Nightmare: The Chilling Trail of a Repeat Offender

October 7, 2025 BROOKLYN, NY A Queens man is now facing an avalanche of charges, including attempted rape and strangulation, in a terrifying incident involving a 12-year-old girl in Brooklyn—an attack that unfolded barely a week after he was released from custody without bail in two strikingly similar cases.

The arrest of Justin Lee, 22, of Queens Village, on October 5th has thrown a harsh spotlight on the revolving door of the justice system, particularly in cases involving alleged violence against minors. Detectives from the Brooklyn Special Victims Squad charged Lee in connection with an early morning horror on October 4th within the 60th Precinct.

The Latest Attack: A Home Invasion and Alleged Attempted Rape

Police sources confirmed that Lee allegedly broke into a private residence in Southern Brooklyn. Court documents reveal the chilling extent of the charges related to the incident, including 18 counts, such as:

• First-degree rape of a victim under 13
• Sexually motivated burglary
• Criminal obstruction of breathing (the basis for the strangulation charge)
• Sexual abuse and forcible touching

The young victim’s ordeal has sent shockwaves through the community, but what has compounded the outrage is the revelation of Lee’s recent—and seemingly immediate—prior history.

A Pattern of Predation: The September 26th Incidents

Court filings show that Lee was already facing multiple charges stemming from two separate attacks against minors, just hours apart, on September 26th. In both Kensington incidents along Ocean Parkway, Lee is accused of following and assaulting girls aged 13 and 14 in apartment buildings.

In the first case, he allegedly followed a child into her lobby, grabbed her by the neck from behind, and fled only when she screamed. Hours later, he allegedly cornered a second minor in a nearby building, restrained her with a bear hug, and again ran off when she cried out.

Surveillance footage from both locations allegedly placed Lee at the scenes, wearing a distinctive outfit that included a black hooded sweatshirt and a red Mario Kart shirt. Following his arrest on September 27th for the two incidents, police noted that Lee reportedly told investigators, “I scared a girl because I grabbed her.”

Walked Free: The No-Bail Decision

Despite the alarming nature of the September 26th charges—which included burglary and endangering the welfare of a child—court records show that Lee was released from custody without bail on September 27th by Judge Christopher Whitehair. He pleaded not guilty to all counts and was scheduled for his next court appearance in late January 2026.

This decision allowed Lee to walk free, setting the stage for the alleged attempted rape just over a week later. As of press time, Lee had not yet been arraigned on the newest and most severe charges, and his attorney has not responded to requests for comment.

NYPD Urges the Public: Do You Have Information?

The NYPD is actively building its case and has issued an urgent plea for anyone who may have been sexually abused or victimized by the suspect to come forward. If you have information or were a victim, you are strongly urged to contact the NYPD Sex Crimes Hotline or the Crime Stoppers Hotline immediately.

NYPD Sex Crimes Hotline: 212-267-RAPE (7273) Crime Stoppers Hotline: 800-577-TIPS

How could a suspect with a documented pattern of targeting minors be released without bail, and what does this mean for public safety? Join the conversation in the comments below.