Tourist stabbed while changing baby in Macy's New York

A tourist was stabbed multiple times while changing her baby’s diaper inside a bathroom at Macy’s flagship store in New York City on Thursday.

Newsweek has contacted the New York Police Department (NYPD) via email for comment.

Why It Matters

The violent, unprovoked stabbing inside Macy’s Herald Square flagship store has reignited concerns over public safety, the treatment and monitoring of individuals with severe psychiatric histories, and preventive measures in high-traffic urban retail spaces.

The suspect, 43-year-old Kerri Aherne—recently released from a psychiatric facility and with a record of threatening public figures—was able to purchase a knife inside the store moments before the attack, highlighting weaknesses in the intersection of mental health systems and public safety protocols.

The attack also comes during peak holiday season in one of America’s most visited shopping locations.

What To Know

The suspect appeared in court on Friday night and was ordered to be held without bail.

Prosecutors allege that Aherne of Tewksbury, Massachusetts, stabbed a 38-year-old California woman who was changing her infant daughter’s diaper in a seventh-floor restroom at Macy’s Herald Square in Manhattan.

Aherne told authorities she had purchased a knife inside Macy’s moments before committing the attack because voices in her head had told her to kill someone or she would be killed, ABC7NY reported.

The victim—who was visiting New York with her husband, both of whom are Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department employees—sustained stab wounds to the back and arm but was taken to a hospital in stable condition and is expected to recover.

Her 10-month-old daughter was uninjured, though she fell from the changing table during the assault.

The victim and her husband restrained Aherne until store security and police arrived.

Aherne, who prosecutors said has a history of psychiatric commitments, was charged with attempted murder.

According to prosecutors, Aherne had been discharged that morning from the Manhattan Psychiatric Center, where she had received inpatient treatment for over a year.

Authorities have also confirmed that in 2018, Aherne was arrested for threatening Democratic Senator Elizabeth Warren of Massachusetts via a Facebook post, stating she wanted to kill the senior politician.

Aherne left Massachusetts in 2024 while on temporary release from a hospital, expressing a preference for prison over hospitalization. She does not have prior arrests in New York and is believed to be homeless, officials said.

What People Are Saying

A Macy’s spokesperson said: “We are deeply saddened about the incident that took place today as the safety of our customers and colleagues is our top priority. We kindly defer any further questions to the local authorities.”

Oscar DeCastro, in the store with his family during the attack, said, per CBS News: “It’s very scary, for sure. It stinks, but we keep our heads high. We try to pay attention.”

Fellow shopper Salvadore Tabares said, per CBS News: “It’s a pretty safe environment. I wouldn’t imagine something like that could happen.”

Franklin Doman, another shopper, said, per CBS News: “We all come in here with families. We don’t know what happens, so, of course, we want more security.”