Sheriff's Department Employee Attacked in Macy's Restroom

A staff member of the Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department was on a trip to New York City when she fell victim to a stabbing while tending to her child's diaper change in a Macy's restroom, authorities reported.

On Thursday afternoon, the couple had been shopping in Herald Square, along with their infant, when they paused at the Macy's located on West 34th Street around 3:15 p.m. Inside the restroom, a homeless woman, identified as 43-year-old Kerri Aherne, suddenly attacked the mother, inflicting several back wounds and a cut on her arm, said NYPD Sgt. Kevin Sheehan.

Remarkably, the infant was unharmed. There was no previous encounter or disagreement between the victim and the attacker, according to Sheehan.

The woman's spouse, also an employee of the Los Angeles Sheriff’s Department, heard the noise from nearby, rushed into the restroom, and managed to subdue the attacker until law enforcement arrived. The department did not disclose their specific jobs.

Medical responders transported the injured woman to Bellevue Hospital, where she received treatment and is expected to recover as per the police report.

Law enforcement found the weapon used in the incident at the crime scene.

Macy's released a statement expressing deep sorrow over the incident, emphasizing the high priority of keeping their patrons and employees safe.