Mom stabbed while changing infant at Herald Square Macy’s in unprovoked attack

A 39-year-old mom from California holiday shopping at Macy’s Herald Square was repeatedly knifed in the back by a homeless stranger as she changed her infant daughter in the department store bathroom during a wild, unprovoked attack, officials said Friday.

The victim was changing her 9-month-old daughter’s diaper in a seventh floor bathroom at Macy’s flagship store on W. 34th St. near Broadway at about 3:15 p.m. Thursday when Kerri Aherne, 43, rushed in and repeatedly jammed a blade into the woman’s back, cops said. She also slashed her victim’s arm.

The victim’s husband heard the commotion inside the bathroom, ran in, and grabbed the assailant, holding her until police could arrive.

The knife used was recovered at the scene.

EMS rushed the mom to Bellevue Hospital, where she’s expected to survive. Her daughter, who was just inches from the stabbing, was unharmed.

The victim and her partner are both employees of the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department, the agency confirmed. It was not immediately clear what positions they hold.

Police charged Aherne with two counts of attempted murder, assault, weapons possession and endangering the welfare of a child.

The two women didn’t know each other and there was no altercation according to police.

Aherne is from Tewksbury, Mass., about 220 miles from Herald Square, but is homeless in New York, cops said.

Her arraignment in Manhattan Criminal Court was pending Friday.

“We are deeply saddened about the incident that took place today as the safety of our customers and colleagues is our top priority,” a Macy’s spokesman said in a statement. “We kindly defer any further questions to the local authorities.”

Contributing: Sydney Barragan, Southern California News Group