Conflicts

Suspect Charged in Stabbing of Tourist at NYC Department Store

Illustration for: Suspect Charged in Stabbing of Tourist at NYC Department Store
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Dec 13, 2025

THE BARE STORY

A female tourist from California was stabbed multiple times on Thursday afternoon inside a restroom at the Macy's flagship store in New York City's Herald Square. The New York Police Department stated the attack, which they described as unprovoked, occurred around 3 p.m. on the seventh floor while the woman was changing her infant daughter's diaper. The victim's husband reportedly heard screams, entered the restroom, and helped subdue the assailant until police and store security arrived.

Police arrested Kerri Aherne, 43, of Tewksbury, Massachusetts, at the scene. She was later charged with attempted murder, assault, criminal possession of a weapon, and endangering the welfare of a child. Following a court appearance on Friday, Aherne was ordered to be held without bail.

According to prosecutors, Aherne told police she had been discharged from a psychiatric hospital on the morning of the attack. The criminal complaint alleges that Aherne stated she went to Macy's, bought a knife, and was looking for someone to kill because voices in her head told her she had to do so or she would be killed. The Manhattan District Attorney’s Office also said Aherne had a prior arrest in Massachusetts for allegedly threatening to kill a U.S. senator.

The victim and her husband are both employees of the Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department. The victim was transported to a hospital in stable condition. According to the criminal complaint, her baby fell from a changing table during the incident and sustained minor injuries. Both were later released from the hospital. A Macy's spokesperson stated that the company is reinforcing safety measures and that the safety of customers is a top priority.

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• The suspect allegedly reported a recent discharge from psychiatric care. According to prosecutors, Kerri Aherne told police that she had been discharged from a psychiatric hospital on the same day as the attack. This statement suggests she was receiving mental health treatment just hours before the incident occurred.

• The suspect claimed she was compelled to act by auditory hallucinations. The criminal complaint alleges that Aherne told investigators she was hearing voices in her head. She reportedly stated these voices told her she had to kill someone, or she herself would be killed, framing her alleged actions as a response to internal commands.

• The suspect's alleged actions were part of a plan to fulfill the voices' demands. According to the criminal complaint, Aherne stated that after hearing the voices, she went to the Macy's store, purchased a knife, and was actively "looking for someone to kill." This indicates her alleged actions were not random but were a direct result of the compulsion she described to police.

How it may affect me

As a U.S. reader:

• The attack in a major department store may raise public concern about personal safety in high-traffic retail areas and tourist locations across the country.

• Large retailers may reinforce security protocols in response, potentially leading to more visible security or altered customer access to facilities like restrooms.

• The suspect’s reported discharge from a psychiatric hospital may intensify public debate on the adequacy of mental healthcare protocols and post-release community support.

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