Broadway costume designer, 25, attacked by madman with bottle in NYC
Share and Follow

A talented young costume designer was enjoying her dream life working on Broadway…until an unhinged stranger stabbed her with a broken bottle.   

Megan Berg, aged 25, was walking in the upscale Manhattan area of SoHo at 3 pm on Monday when she was attacked. According to the police, a homeless man approached her from behind and slashed her neck, causing her to collapse on the street. She is currently in critical condition.

An NYPD spokesman told DailyMail.com that Muslim Brunson, 46, was charged the following day with attempted murder in the second degree, second degree assault and criminal possession of a weapon. 

Brunson’s alleged rampage unfolded in the area of Broome and Wooster Streets, a ritzy tourist hotspot known for its designer stores, restaurants and celebrity residents.

The suspect is also said to have assaulted another young woman moments before attacking Berg. 

A NYPD spokesperson said he hit a 29-year-old woman in the back with a glass bottle at the intersection. She was unhurt and ran away, but the bottle shattered. 

Brunson then allegedly used the broken bottle to stab Berg in the neck. She was rushed to Bellevue Hospital for surgery. 

George Berg, Megan’s father, said she moved to NYC from her home state of Arizona to pursue her aspiration of working as a costume designer. 

The heartbroken father of young costume designer Megan Berg (pictured), who was attacked with a broken bottle in New York City, has said she had been 'living her dream' in the Big Apple

The heartbroken father of young costume designer Megan Berg (pictured), who was attacked with a broken bottle in New York City, has said she had been ‘living her dream’ in the Big Apple

The heartbroken father of a young costume designer who was attacked with a broken bottle in New York City has said she was 'living her dream' until the horror incident left her in a critical condition this week. (Pictured: The bloody aftermath of the attack in SoHo, Manhattan)

The heartbroken father of a young costume designer who was attacked with a broken bottle in New York City has said she was ‘living her dream’ until the horror incident left her in a critical condition this week. (Pictured: The bloody aftermath of the attack in SoHo, Manhattan)

Muslim Brunson used a glass bottle to attack two young women in Manhattan, police said

Muslim Brunson used a glass bottle to attack two young women in Manhattan, police said

‘Moving to New York City was her dream,’ he told the New York Post. ‘She’s been doing costume design since she was in middle school.

‘It’s just crazy. She’s still hanging on. She’s bubbly and loves what she’s doing. She’s full of life.’

‘We’re hanging on,’ he added, his voice cracking. ‘It’s tough. My wife flew to New York this morning. I haven’t heard anything other than [Megan is] still in ICU.’

Disturbing photographs from the scene show blood splattered across a pedestrian crossing and shards of a glass bottle near by. 

Witnesses said they heard Berg scream amid the attack and several people rushed over to apply pressure to her wound until EMS arrived. 

Police said Brunson has been arrested several times before and has a history of mental health treatment. 

Megan Berg is in a critical condition in hospital

Witnesses say they heard Berg's screams during the attack

Megan Berg (pictured), 25, was strolling through the affluent Lower Manhattan neighborhood of SoHo at around 3pm on Monday when police say Muslim Brunson slashed her in the neck from behind, leaving her bleeding out on the street

The heartbroken father of young costume designer Megan Berg (pictured), who was attacked with a broken bottle in New York City has said she had been 'living her dream' in the Big Apple

The heartbroken father of young costume designer Megan Berg (pictured), who was attacked with a broken bottle in New York City has said she had been ‘living her dream’ in the Big Apple

Brunson's alleged rampage unfolded in the area of Broome and Wooster Streets in SoHo

Brunson’s alleged rampage unfolded in the area of Broome and Wooster Streets in SoHo

His rap sheet includes an alleged attack on July 4, 2022, that left a 53-year-old woman with serious injuries to her face. 

The NYPD told DailyMail.com that Brunson attacked the woman at Fulton Street in the city’s ritzy Financial District by pushing her from behind, causing her to strike a subway pole. 

‘The victim sustained bruising and swelling to the face,’ a spokesperson said, adding that she was taken to the hospital for treatment.  

Brunson also allegedly robbed and assaulted a 13-year-old boy in Brooklyn in 2019. 

The NYPD told DailyMail.com that Brunson, 46, was charged at 1.50am on Tuesday with attempted murder, assault and criminal possession of a weapon

The NYPD told DailyMail.com that Brunson, 46, was charged at 1.50am on Tuesday with attempted murder, assault and criminal possession of a weapon

Jade McLeon, a theater performer and former colleague, told The Post that Berg was 'a sweet girl'

Jade McLeon, a theater performer and former colleague, told The Post that Berg was ‘a sweet girl’ 

Witnesses said they heard Berg scream amid the attack on Monday, and several people rushed over to apply pressure to her wound until EMS arrived

Witnesses said they heard Berg scream amid the attack on Monday, and several people rushed over to apply pressure to her wound until EMS arrived

His latest alleged victim, Berg, had a glittering career under her belt already at the age of 25. 

She had worked on musicals since 2017 in her home state of Arizona, and was most recently an assistant costume designer on off-Broadway productions of Fallen Angels, The Irrepressible Magic of the Tropics and Music City: A New Musical. 

Jade McLeon, a theater performer and former colleague, told The Post that Berg was ‘a sweet girl’. 

‘She’s really friendly, lovely. We talked about theater. She’s passionate about theater.’ 

Share and Follow
You May Also Like
'Cancer-like' fungus with no treatment spreading rapidly

Rapid Spread of Untreatable ‘Cancer-Like’ Fungus Sparks Global Health Concerns

A lethal fungus, resistant to treatment and often compared to cancer in…
Disney World worker is injured trying to stop runaway boulder at Indiana Jones show

Disney World Employee Injured While Attempting to Halt Rolling Boulder at Indiana Jones Attraction

An employee at Walt Disney World got injured while trying to halt…
Bibi, Laura and a pair of Netflix stars top Trump's New Year's Eve

Trump’s New Year’s Eve Celebration Headlined by Bibi, Laura, and Netflix Stars

Since the late 1990s, President Donald Trump has been known for throwing…
Children ring in 2026 in early New Year's Eve events across Chicago area, including Naperville DuPage Children's Museum

Chicago-Area Families Celebrate 2026 with Kid-Friendly New Year’s Eve Events at Naperville’s DuPage Children’s Museum

New Year’s Eve in the Chicagoland area offers a variety of festivities…
Dispatch records from Brown University shooting capture chaos of deadly campus attack

Unveiling the Chaos: Inside the Deadly Shooting at Brown University Through Dispatch Records

EXCLUSIVE TO FOX: Newly obtained records from the police and fire departments…
New Year's around the world: Cities across the globe welcome 2026 with thunderous fireworks and heightened security

Global New Year 2026: Cities Light Up the Sky with Dazzling Fireworks Amid Tightened Security

In Auckland, as the clock struck midnight, New Zealanders welcomed the new…
Abused girl begged for help - but cops sent her home to be killed

Tragic Oversight: Police Return Abused Girl Home, Resulting in Fatal Consequences

A courageous young girl, desperate to escape a life of mistreatment, leapt…
After legal setbacks, President Donald Trump says he's dropping push for National Guard in Chicago, LA, Portland, Oregon, for now

Trump Halts National Guard Plans for Chicago, LA, and Portland Following Legal Challenges

CHICAGO — President Donald Trump has announced a temporary halt to his…