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, 25, was strolling through the affluent Manhattan neighborhood of SoHo at 3pm on Monday when police say a homeless man slashed her in the neck from behind, leaving her bleeding out on the street. She remains in a 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 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
‘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 (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
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
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
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.’
