A mother of three from California is now recovering after being stabbed inside Macy’s Herald Square in New York City on Thursday.
It appears to have been an unprovoked attack, police said.
The victim, 39, was stabbed repeatedly in a store bathroom by another woman while she was changing her 10-month-old daughter. It happened on the seventh floor, where children’s toys and apparel are sold.
10-month-old also injured in attack
The victim’s husband was standing outside the bathroom with their two other kids, ages 12 and 15, when his wife went in to change the baby. He saw the suspect walk into the bathroom, and then heard screaming, police said. He then rushed inside and helped his wife subdue the suspect, holding her until store security arrived, according to the NYPD.
The woman was taken to the hospital, where she had to get several stitches. According to the criminal complaint, her 10-month-old fell from the changing table to the floor during the attack and sustained redness and swelling to her forehead.
Both the mother and baby have been released from the hospital.
The Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department said the victim and her husband are both LASD employees. The couple resides in Jurupa Valley, CBS News Los Angeles confirmed.
Suspect bought knife at Macy’s before stabbing
Kerri Aherne, 43, of Tewksbury, Massachusetts, has been charged with attempted murder, assault with a weapon, assault and criminal possession of a weapon. She was arraigned on Friday evening.
According to the criminal complaint, Aherne had no criminal history in New York but was arrested back in 2018 in Massachusetts for posting on Facebook about killing Sen. Elizabeth Warren.
Prosecutors said Aherne told police she had been discharged from Manhattan Psychiatric Center on Thursday morning, claiming she had been staying there for more than a year.
According to prosecutors, Aherne went to Macy’s on Thursday, where she purchased a knife and searched for someone to kill in the department store because voices in her head told her she had to kill someone or she would be killed.
The complaint also states that Aherne said she could not tolerate hospitals any longer and wanted to go to prison rather than be returned to a hospital.
“That’s so terrifying”
Macy’s in Herald Square is typically a focal point of holiday cheer this time of year. People in the area were shocked by the news.
“That’s awful. Really awful,” Maria Kablan said.
“Everyone enjoying Christmas, everybody was just getting ready for the holidays, and to think something so horrible would happen here is very disappointing,” said Ronald Smith.
“That’s terrible,” said Taylor Harris, a tourist from Iowa.
“That’s so terrifying. This is my first time here, at Macy’s, and there’s a stabbing. That’s a little wild,” tourist Lexi Kidd said.
It’s not the first time Macy’s flagship store has been at the center of an investigation. Last month, police arrested a woman for allegedly striking a 71-year-old man in the head with her cell phone.
A Macy’s spokesperson told CBS News New York the store has taken several steps to reinforce safety, including expanding an NYPD detail. On Friday, cops could be seen outside the store.
