Justice for Megan Berg and a Call for Reform
Megan Berg
by Chris Peterson, OnStage Blog Founder
The recent, brutal attack on Megan Berg has once again spotlighted New York City's ongoing struggle with managing individuals who have severe mental health issues and violent tendencies. Megan, a 25-year-old off-Broadway costume designer from Arizona, was viciously assaulted by 46-year-old Muslim Brunson—a man with a long history of violent crimes and mental health challenges.
Megan moved to New York to pursue her creative dreams, designing costumes for off-Broadway productions and immersing herself in the city’s theatre community. She is the kind of person New York should protect—young, driven, talented, and contributing to the cultural fabric that makes this city so unique. And yet, she was left vulnerable to an attacker who never should’ve been on the streets.
Brunson's criminal record is both extensive and alarming. In 2019, he robbed and assaulted a 13-year-old boy on the subway. Despite this, he was enrolled in a mental health diversion program, allowing him to avoid incarceration. However, his non-compliance led to further violent incidents, including a 2022 assault on an off-duty NYPD employee, resulting in severe injuries. Following a brief prison sentence and subsequent parole, Brunson was free once more.
The attack on Megan Berg was not an isolated incident but part of a disturbing pattern. While the overall crime rate in NYC is improving, the rates for assaults, stabbings, and slashings are up. Over the past couple of years, multiple attacks have been made on theatrical artists in the city.
In December 2023, musicians from "The Lion King" reported being targeted by violent criminals outside the Minskoff Theatre. One violinist was shoved to the ground, breaking her wrist in ten places, nearly ending her decades-long career. Another musician faced multiple attempts of instrument theft and physical assault.
Similarly, in February 2024, cellist Iain Forrest was attacked while performing at the 34th Street-Herald Square subway station. A woman struck him in the head with his own metal water bottle in an unprovoked assault, leading Forrest to reconsider his future in subway performances.
More recently, in April 2024, actor Michael Stuhlbarg was assaulted near Central Park by a man who struck him with a rock. Despite the attack, Stuhlbarg returned to perform on Broadway the following day, demonstrating resilience amidst rising concerns for performer safety.
These incidents, along with the many others, raise questions about the effectiveness of the city's current approach to handling individuals with severe mental health issues who pose a danger to public safety. It's time we ask harder questions. Why are these individuals allowed to slip through the cracks? Why is the safety of New Yorkers placed in the hands of a system that repeatedly fails to act until someone lies bleeding on the sidewalk?
It’s evident that the existing mental health diversion programs are failing both the individuals they aim to help and the public they are meant to protect. While compassionate treatment is essential, there must be a balance that ensures community safety.
New York City must urgently reevaluate its policies concerning violent offenders with mental health issues. The safety of all of their citizens, like Megan Berg, depends on a system that not only offers support to those in need but also takes decisive action to prevent foreseeable tragedies.
We cannot afford to wait for another headline.