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'She's in the twilight zone': Lawyer for woman who fatally shoved voice coach says she's 'moral'

26-year-old Lauren Pazienza, of Port Jefferson, surrendered herself to the authorities at the 10th Precinct and was charged with manslaughter

A woman turned herself in to police Tuesday, March 22, after she allegedly shoved an 87-year-old grandmother who succumbed to her injuries in a random unprovoked attack in New York City.

26-year-old Lauren Pazienza, of Port Jefferson, surrendered herself to the authorities at the 10th Precinct and was charged with manslaughter. On March 10, Barbara Maier Gustern -- an active broadway performer and voice coach -- was walking after wrapping up a rehearsal in Chelsea when Pazienza approached her from behind and pushed her to the ground.

The octogenarian sustained a severe head injury and was rushed to hospital in critical condition. She died five days later as a result of her injuries.

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As reported by WABC, Pazienza, who was set to get married in June, hid her face behind her hair and said nothing as she was escorted from the precinct to a police cruiser. "Horrible, absolutely horrible," a Chelsea resident told the station on condition of anonymity. "How do you shove an old lady? How do you shove anybody?" she added.

The perpetrator broke down in front of a judge as her bail was set at half a million dollars for alleged manslaughter. "She was crying. She was in pain. She was being accused of a horrible act and she's a very moral, right, just person, who went to high school, went to college," her lawyer Arthur Aidala said. "Has a job. Has a fiancé. Has a family. For her, she's in the twilight zone."

Pazienza allegedly did not know Gustern, a source with knowledge of the case told WABC. The victim was reportedly walking along 28th Street on her way to attend a student's performance when she was attacked near Eighth Avenue. "We feel victimized," Chelsea resident Tamar Zucker told the station. "We feel easily victimized. And I began to feel vulnerable."

AJ Gustern, the victim's grandson, explained how Pazienza "crossed the street, shouted something derogatory at my grandmother, and pushed her down. And then fled across the street and just fled." Police believe the perp and her fiancé took the subway to Queens following the attack, and that she later fled to her parents' Long Island residence. Meanwhile, her social media accounts were taken down.

According to WABC, Pazienza's next court date is slated for Friday, March 25. Authorities are yet to establish a motive as the judge has ordered an evaluation for the defendant. The 26-year-old's family lives in Port Jefferson, but she also has an address listed in Astoria, Queens. She was reportedly working for a high-end French furniture designer, who has not been identified.

AJ Gustern said he racked his brains for days trying to imagine who the suspect could be. "To be honest, I'm white-hot today," he told the station. "I've been trying to give this woman the benefit of the doubt. It seems to me like this woman comes from a similar background. Like what really got to me was finding pictures of her smiling in art galleries, dressed nicely with other people."

The victim's loved ones noted how she had been a popular figure in the theater circuit for decades, having worked with singers from the cast members of the 2019 Broadway revival of the musical 'Oklahoma!' as well as Taylor Mac, an experimental theater artist and 2017 MacArthur "genius grant" recipient who told The New York Times that Gustern was "one of the great humans that I've encountered." That said, her late husband Joe Gustern was also a known singer, with credits including 'The Phantom of the Opera' on Broadway. A funeral service for the beloved grandmother has been organized for Saturday, March 26, WABC reported.