According to a spokesperson for the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department, both the victim and her husband are employees of that agency. Their names have not been released publicly, and police have not disclosed additional details regarding their trip to New York.
Aherne was charged with attempted murder, two counts of assault, criminal possession of a weapon and endangering the welfare of a child. She appeared in Manhattan Criminal Court on Friday and was ordered held without bail. During the brief arraignment, prosecutors referenced a prior case in which Aherne was arrested in Massachusetts for threatening to kill U.S. Senator Elizabeth Warren. Court documents also indicated that the defendant has a history of psychiatric hospitalization.
The Manhattan District Attorney’s Office stated that it will seek a mental health evaluation as part of the ongoing prosecution. Aherne’s next court date is scheduled for later this month. Her legal counsel has not issued a public statement.
Store representatives said Macy’s security staff responded immediately and cooperated with law enforcement. “The safety of our customers and colleagues is our top priority,” the company noted in a written statement. Macy’s declined to provide further details, citing the active investigation.
The New York Police Department has assigned detectives from the Midtown South Precinct to review surveillance footage and interview witnesses. Investigators are analyzing video from cameras positioned in the hallway outside the women’s restroom, as well as footage from the sales floor and building entrances, to reconstruct the suspect’s movements before and after the incident.
Police sources said initial evidence suggests the suspect entered the store alone, wandered through several departments and then proceeded to the restroom, where she remained for a short period before the attack. No prior interaction between Aherne and the victim has been documented.
Imagem: Internet
The stabbing occurred during peak holiday shopping hours at the historic department store, which occupies an entire city block at West 34th Street and Broadway. Foot traffic inside the building was heavy at the time, and minor disruptions followed as officers and emergency responders secured the area. The rest of the store remained open after a brief lockdown on the seventh floor.
Authorities have not disclosed a possible motive. Investigators said they are examining whether mental health factors played a significant role. Police added that Aherne had been in New York for approximately two days and was staying at a Midtown hotel.
Incidents of violence inside major retail locations are uncommon, but the NYPD records sporadic assaults in large commercial spaces citywide. The department’s most recent CompStat report lists 134 felony assaults in the Midtown South precinct through the first week of December, a slight increase from the same period last year.
In response to Thursday’s stabbing, Macy’s indicated that it is reviewing internal security protocols, including patrol patterns and surveillance coverage in customer restrooms. The company operates more than 500 stores nationwide and typically adds seasonal security personnel during the holiday period.
For the California family, what began as a routine shopping outing became a violent encounter. Police emphasized that the quick actions of the victim’s husband prevented further harm and facilitated an immediate arrest. Detectives continue to gather evidence and have asked anyone with information about the suspect’s movements before the incident to contact the department’s tip line.
Crédito da imagem: Kena Betancur/AFP via Getty Images
