California tourist stabbed while changing baby at Macy’s Herald Square; suspect, identified as Kerri Aherne, charged with attempted murder
A 39-year-old California tourist and Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department employee was stabbed multiple times from behind in Macy’s Herald Square’s 7th-floor women’s restroom while changing her 10-month-old baby’s diaper on Dec. 11, 2025; suspect charged with attempted murder.
- Unprovoked attack: Victim stabbed from behind in a 7th-floor Macy’s restroom; infant unharmed.
- Suspect charged: Kerri Aherne of Tewksbury, Massachusetts, faces attempted murder and related counts and was ordered held without bail.
- Quick intervention: Victim’s husband disarmed and restrained the attacker until NYPD arrived; victim hospitalized in stable condition.
- Investigation ongoing: NYPD leads the probe; prosecutors reviewing surveillance, witnesses and court records.
What happened
According to police, the assault was sudden and without prior contact. The victim, a 39-year-old woman from Jurupa Valley in Riverside County, California and an employee of the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department, was in a stall on the 7th floor of Macy’s Herald Square changing her approximately 10-month-old baby’s diaper when she was attacked from behind. The assailant struck the woman multiple times in the back and cut her left arm before fleeing the immediate area. The victim’s husband confronted, disarmed and restrained the suspect until officers arrived. The victim was transported to Bellevue Hospital in stable condition; the infant was not injured. (Sources: ABC7 Chicago, ABC News, KTVU.)
Law enforcement response and investigation
NYPD officers responded to a 911 call reporting an assault in progress at Macy’s. The Manhattan District Attorney’s Office filed charges including attempted murder, two counts of assault, criminal possession of a weapon and endangering the welfare of a child. The suspect, Kerri Aherne, was arraigned and ordered held without bail. Police described the attack as unprovoked with no known prior contact between the two women. Investigators are reviewing surveillance footage, witness statements and physical evidence; NYPD is the lead investigative agency. (Sources: ABC News, ABC7 Chicago.)
Victim background and context
The Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department confirmed that both the victim and her partner are LASD employees and noted that local New York authorities are handling the investigation. The department declined further comment. The victim remains hospitalized but is reported in stable condition; the infant was unharmed. (Source: KTVU.)
Suspect background and prior interactions with law enforcement
Manhattan prosecutors said Kerri Aherne, 43, had a prior arrest in Massachusetts on a charge of threatening to kill U.S. Sen. Elizabeth Warren and court filings note psychiatric hospitalizations. Media reports vary on housing status, with some describing Aherne as homeless while police filings list a Tewksbury, Massachusetts address. These details were cited in preliminary court filings and public records released at the arraignment. (Source: ABC News.)
Charges and court status
Aherne faces multiple felony charges brought by the Manhattan District Attorney’s Office, including attempted murder, assault counts, criminal possession of a weapon and endangering the welfare of a child. At an initial court appearance she was ordered held without bail. Prosecutors and investigators continue to review surveillance footage, witness statements and other evidence as the case progresses; any mental-health evaluations ordered by the court will be part of ongoing proceedings. (Sources: ABC7 Chicago, KTVU.)
Statements from Macy’s and local authorities
Macy’s issued a brief statement saying it was “deeply saddened about the incident” and emphasized that customer and colleague safety is a top priority, directing further questions to local authorities. The Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department confirmed employment of the victim and her partner and deferred investigative comment to the NYPD. (Sources: ABC News, KTVU.)
Public safety, mental health and accountability
The attack in a busy, high-profile retail location during the holiday season raises immediate questions about public safety in shared spaces. Authorities and prosecutors have noted the suspect’s prior arrest and reported psychiatric hospitalizations, which intersect with broader questions about mental-health care, public safety and criminal accountability. Local prosecutors sought detention without bail, citing the severity and apparent danger to the public. The case has renewed debate over balancing mental-health treatment, civil liberties and preventive detention. (Source: ABC News.)
Investigative notes and open questions
- Motive: Authorities describe the attack as unprovoked; no prior contact reported publicly. (Sources: ABC7 Chicago, ABC News.)
- Mental-health history: Court filings cite prior psychiatric hospitalizations and past threatening behavior; mental-health evaluations may be central to future proceedings. (Source: ABC News.)
- Security measures: The incident occurred inside a store restroom; whether Macy’s will change patrol, camera or staffing policies is under review. (Source: ABC News.)
Implications for the United States
Public safety and law enforcement: The Macy’s Herald Square stabbing underscores concerns about safety in public retail spaces during busy seasons and highlights the role of rapid intervention by bystanders and police.
Mental-health policy and criminal accountability: The suspect’s reported psychiatric history and prior arrest raise policy questions about tracking, treatment and detention for individuals who may pose a public danger.
Homelessness, urban safety and retail liability: Conflicting media descriptions of the suspect’s housing status and the attack’s location in a flagship store will feed broader debates about homelessness, policing and liability for large retailers.
Interstate coordination: With the victim and her partner employed by the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department, the case raises questions about interstate investigative coordination and protections for traveling families and public-safety personnel.
Further reporting and court developments
Authorities say the investigation is ongoing. Journalists will continue to track the victim’s recovery, prosecutorial filings, any defense motions and potential mental-health evaluations. Court filings, surveillance evidence and public records released after arraignment are expected to provide additional detail in coming days. (Sources: ABC7 Chicago, ABC News, KTVU, CBS Austin.)
Sources
- ABC7 Chicago — Macy’s Herald Square stabbing coverage
- ABC News — New York tourist stabbed while changing baby at Macy’s
- KTVU — California tourist wounded at Macy’s in New York City
- CBS Austin — Local reporting on the Macy’s Herald Square incident
