A Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department employee on vacation in New York City was stabbed inside a Macy's bathroom while changing her 9-month-old daughter's diaper Thursday, police said.
The woman and her husband were shopping with their baby in Herald Square before stopping at the Macy's restroom on West 34th Street at 3:15 p.m. A homeless woman identified by police as Kerri Aherne, 43, lunged at the mother inside the bathroom, stabbing her in the back several times and cutting her arm, NYPD Sgt. Kevin Sheehan said.
The woman's baby was not injured. The two women did not know each other and there was no prior interaction or dispute, Sheehan said.
The victim's husband, who was nearby and heard the disturbance, ran to the bathroom and restrained the attacker until officers arrived, Sheehan said. The victim's husband is also an LASD employee, according to a statement from the department. Their specific roles were not revealed.
Paramedics took the woman to Bellevue Hospital, where she was treated and is expected to survive, according to Sheehan.
The knife used in the attack was recovered at the scene, police said.
Macy's confirmed the incident in a statement on Friday.
“We are deeply saddened by the incident that took place today, as the safety of our customers and colleagues is our top priority,” a company spokesperson said.
