43-Year-Old Kerri Aherne Arrested for Stabbing Tourist in Macy’s Flagship Store Bathroom While She Was Changing Baby’s Diaper

A routine visit to one of New York City’s most iconic department stores turned into a terrifying ordeal on Thursday afternoon when a tourist was brutally stabbed inside a restroom at Macy’s Herald Square. The incident unfolded in a space normally associated with safety and everyday family routines, underscoring how sudden and unpredictable violent acts can be, even in highly public and well-patrolled locations.

According to the New York Police Department, the attack was unprovoked and occurred while the victim was tending to her infant child, a detail that has intensified public concern and outrage. Authorities say the suspect, 43-year-old Kerri Aherne of Tewksbury, Massachusetts, has now been charged with multiple serious offenses, including attempted murder, and is being held without bail as the investigation continues.

The stabbing took place on the seventh floor of Macy’s flagship Herald Square store shortly before 3 p.m., a time when the building typically sees steady foot traffic from shoppers, tourists, and families. The victim, who was visiting Manhattan from California with her family, had entered the restroom to change her baby daughter’s diaper. Police allege that Kerri Aherne approached her from behind and stabbed her multiple times, striking her in the back and arm.

The attack ended only when the victim’s husband intervened, managing to disarm the suspect and restrain her until officers arrived at the scene. Emergency responders transported the injured woman to Bellevue Hospital, where she was listed in stable condition. Her baby was not physically harmed during the attack.

The Attack Inside Macy’s Herald Square

Police accounts indicate that the assault was swift and seemingly without warning. Investigators say there was no prior interaction between the suspect and the victim that would suggest a dispute or confrontation. The restroom setting, combined with the victim’s focus on caring for her infant, left little opportunity to react or defend herself when the attack began. According to authorities, Kerri Aherne allegedly used a sharp object to carry out the stabbing, though officials have not released detailed information about the weapon beyond confirming that charges include criminal possession of a weapon.

The role of the victim’s husband proved critical in preventing further harm. After hearing his wife’s screams, he rushed into the restroom area and confronted the suspect. Police say he was able to wrestle the weapon away and hold Kerri Aherne until officers arrived. Law enforcement officials have credited his actions with potentially saving lives, noting that the situation could have escalated further given the confined space and the presence of a child.

The victim and her husband were later identified by a spokesperson for the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department as employees of the LASD. While that detail does not appear to have any direct connection to the incident, it highlights the random nature of the attack. Authorities have emphasized that the woman was targeted solely because she happened to be present in the restroom at the time.

🚨 NYC Dem hellhole: Homeless psycho Kerri Aherne, 43 from Mass, STABS mom MULTIPLE TIMES in back—WHILE CHANGING BABY’S DIAPER at Macy’s. UNACCEPTABLE.
pic.twitter.com/fFTi9eXJrE

— Louis Montoya (@montoyalouis1) December 13, 2025

Macy’s Herald Square, often described as the world’s largest department store, occupies an entire city block and attracts millions of visitors each year. The store features multiple floors, including retail spaces, restaurants, and public restrooms. The seventh-floor location of the incident raised questions about security coverage and monitoring within such a vast retail environment. While Macy’s employs private security and cooperates with the NYPD, police have noted that even with safeguards in place, preventing every act of sudden violence in public spaces remains a challenge.

In a statement provided to WABC, a Macy’s spokesperson said the company was “deeply saddened about the incident” and emphasized that customer and employee safety is its top priority. The spokesperson added that the company would defer further questions to local authorities, a standard response while an active investigation is underway.

Arrest, Charges, and Court Proceedings

Kerri Aherne was taken into custody at the scene and formally arrested Thursday afternoon. Police confirmed that she faces a series of felony charges, including two counts of assault, attempted murder, criminal possession of a weapon, and endangering the welfare of a child. The inclusion of the child endangerment charge reflects the presence of the infant during the attack and the inherent risk posed by such violence in close proximity to a young child.

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Kerri Aherne appeared in court on Friday, where a judge ordered her held without bail. Prosecutors argued that the severity of the charges, combined with the apparent randomness of the attack, justified continued detention. Court records show that Aherne is a resident of Tewksbury, Massachusetts, and had traveled to New York prior to the incident, though officials have not disclosed the purpose or duration of her stay in the city.

The Manhattan District Attorney’s Office also revealed that Kerri Aherne has a prior arrest history in Massachusetts. According to prosecutors, she was previously arrested for threatening to kill U.S. Senator Elizabeth Warren. While details of that case were not extensively discussed during the New York court proceedings, authorities cited it as part of a broader pattern of concerning behavior. The district attorney’s office further stated that Aherne told police she has been hospitalized in the past for psychiatric problems, information that may play a role in future legal arguments regarding her mental state.

Despite these disclosures, prosecutors have emphasized that the current case will proceed based on the facts of the attack itself. Under New York law, attempted murder charges require evidence that the defendant intended to cause death and took a substantial step toward that outcome. Investigators say the nature and location of the stab wounds, as well as the circumstances of the assault, support the charge.

Defense counsel has not yet made detailed public statements regarding Kerri Aherne’s case. It remains unclear whether her legal team will pursue a mental health defense or seek psychiatric evaluations as part of the pretrial process. For now, the focus remains on the victim’s recovery and the ongoing investigation into how the attack unfolded.

Public Safety Concerns and the Broader Context

The stabbing has reignited conversations about public safety in major urban retail spaces, particularly those frequented by tourists and families. Macy’s Herald Square is not only a shopping destination but also a landmark that draws visitors from around the world. Incidents of serious violence in such locations, while statistically rare, tend to have an outsized impact on public perception because they challenge assumptions about safety in everyday environments.

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Law enforcement officials have stressed that the attack appears to be an isolated and unprovoked incident. Police said there is no indication that the suspect and victim knew each other or that the attack was motivated by any broader ideology or grievance. Nonetheless, the randomness of the assault has left many people unsettled, especially parents who regularly use public restrooms and family facilities while traveling.

Experts in criminal behavior note that unprovoked attacks in public spaces often raise complex questions about mental health, warning signs, and prevention. While many individuals with psychiatric histories are not violent, cases like this highlight the difficulties authorities face in identifying and intervening before an incident occurs. In this case, the suspect’s alleged admission of prior psychiatric hospitalizations may become a focal point in discussions about access to treatment and continuity of care.

City officials have reiterated that New York remains a safe destination for visitors, pointing to overall crime statistics and the presence of law enforcement throughout major commercial areas. The NYPD has said it will continue to work with private businesses like Macy’s to review security protocols and ensure rapid response capabilities. However, officials have also acknowledged that no amount of security can completely eliminate the risk of spontaneous violence.

For the victim and her family, the incident represents a traumatic interruption to what was meant to be an ordinary day. Police have not released her name publicly, citing privacy concerns, but have confirmed that she remains in stable condition and is expected to recover physically. The emotional impact of the attack, particularly given that it occurred in front of her infant child, is likely to be long-lasting.

As the legal process moves forward, the case of Kerri Aherne will continue to draw attention not only because of the shocking circumstances of the attack but also because of the broader issues it raises about public safety, mental health, and the vulnerabilities that exist even in the most familiar of places. The investigation remains ongoing, and authorities have indicated that additional details may emerge as they continue to review evidence and interview witnesses.