Woman stabbed in unprovoked attack inside Macy's in NYC, suspect arrested, police say
A woman has been arrested in connection to a stabbing that happened inside the Macy's flagship location in Manhattan on Thursday afternoon, police said.
Forty-three-year-old Kerri Aherne, of Massachusetts, has been charged with attempted murder, assault with a weapon, assault and criminal possession of a weapon.
Victim stabbed in back multiple times
According to police, officers were sent to the seventh floor of Macy's Herald Square around 3:15 p.m. for a report of an assault in progress.
When officers arrived, police said they found a 38-year-old woman suffering from multiple stab wounds to the back and a cut on her right arm.
The victim was taken to a local hospital, where she was last reported to be in stable condition.
A Macy's spokesperson told CBS News New York in a statement, "We are deeply saddened about the incident that took place today as the safety of our customers and colleagues is our top priority. We kindly defer any further questions to the local authorities."
Shopper Oscar DeCastro was inside the department store with his family when he learned about the stabbing from a security guard.
"It's very scary, for sure. It stinks, but we keep our heads high. We try to pay attention," he said.
"It's a pretty safe environment. I wouldn't imagine something like that could happen," shopper Salvadore Tabares said.
"We all come in here with families. We don't know what happens, so, of course, we want more security," shopper Franklin Doman said.
2nd assault at Macy's in past month
This is the second assault inside the iconic New York City department store in the past month.
On Nov. 19, a 71-year-old man was shopping inside the store with his family when police say Donna Francis, 65, approached him from behind and hit him in the head four times with an object, believed to be a cell phone. That attack was also unprovoked.
The victim in that incident was treated at a local hospital for deep internal bruising. Francis was arrested and charged with assault.