Manhattan District Attorney Alvin L. Bragg, Jr., today announced the indictment of KERRI AHERNE, 43, for allegedly stabbing a 39-year-old woman changing her baby’s diaper inside a bathroom at Macy’s Herald Square in December 2025. AHERNE is charged in a New York State Supreme Court indictment with one count each of Attempted Murder in the Second Degree, Attempted Assault in the First Degree, Assault in the Second Degree and Endangering the Welfare of a Child. [1]

“The thousands of families that visit Manhattan during the holiday season deserve to be safe while shopping and celebrating with their loved ones,” said District Attorney Bragg. “As alleged, Kerri Aherne carried out a horrific and unprovoked stabbing of a mother who was simply caring for her 10-month-old baby. This tourist was attacked inside one of the city’s largest and most frequented department stores, posing public safety implications for employees, visitors, and New Yorkers alike. I wish the victim a swift recovery.”

As alleged in court documents and statements made on the record in court, on December 11, 2025, prior to the stabbing, AHERNE entered the Macy’s in Herald Square, near West 34th Street and 7th Avenue, and purchased a knife. At approximately 3:13 p.m., AHERNE entered a seventh-floor bathroom, approached the victim from behind as she was changing her 10-month-old baby’s diaper, and allegedly began stabbing her, unprovoked. The victim eventually managed to grab the knife from AHERNE and throw it to the other end of the bathroom. During the attack, the baby fell from the changing table onto the floor. AHERNE was restrained by the victim’s boyfriend and by store security workers until police officers arrived to arrest her on the scene. The victim was taken to the hospital to be treated for her injuries, including two stab wounds to her back and lacerations to her arm and hand that required stitches.

Assistant D.A. Paul Barker is handling the prosecution of this case, under the supervision of Assistant D.A. David Hammer (Chief of Trial Bureau 70), and Executive D.A. Lisa DelPizzo (Chief of the Trial Division). Trial Preparation Assistant Mariana Zieve-Cohen (Trial Bureau 70) and Senior Investigative Analyst Andrew McCoy (Trial Bureau 70) are providing invaluable assistance in this case.

D.A. Bragg thanked the NYPD, particularly Police Officer Jonathan Castro of the Midtown South Precinct and Detective Lauren Helmeset of the Midtown South Precinct Detective Squad.

 

Defendant Information:

KERRI AHERNE

Tewksbury, MA

Charged:

• Attempted Murder in the Second Degree, a class B felony, one count
• Attempted Assault in the First Degree, a class C felony, one count
• Assault in the Second Degree, a class D felony, one count
• Endangering the Welfare of a Child, a class A misdemeanor, one count

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[1] The charges contained in the indictment are merely allegations and the defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty. All factual recitations are derived from documents filed in court and statements made on the record in court.