Sheriff employee stabbed while changing her baby in Macy’s bathroom

A Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department employee vacationing in New York was stabbed in a Macy’s bathroom Thursday while changing his 9-month-old daughter’s diaper, police said.

The woman and her husband were shopping with their baby in Herald Square before stopping at the West 34th Street Macy’s restroom at 3:15 p.m. A homeless woman identified by police as Kerri Aherne, 43, attacked the mother in the bathroom, stabbing her several times in the back and cutting her arm, NYPD Sgt. Kevin Sheehan said.

The woman’s baby was not harmed. The two women did not know each other and there was no prior interaction or disagreement, 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 disclosed.

Paramedics took the woman to Bellevue Hospital, where she received treatment and was expected to survive, Sheehan said.

Police said the knife used in the attack was seized at the scene.

Macy’s confirmed the incident in a statement on Friday.

“We are deeply saddened by today’s incident as the safety of our customers and colleagues is our top priority,” a company spokesperson said.