Times Square Stabbing Kills Woman, Shooter Suspect Shot Dead by NYPD

A woman died and a man was critically injured after a knife attack in Times Square. Police shot and killed the suspect, identified as Pamela Cisneros, 49.

Woman Killed in Random Times Square Stabbing; NYPD Shoots Suspect Dead

A 32-year-old woman died at a hospital and a 68-year-old man sustained life-threatening injuries — since stabilised — after a knife attack near West 42nd Street and Seventh Avenue in Times Square on Monday afternoon, patch.com reports. New York City police fatally shot the suspect moments after the stabbings.

The attack began at approximately 4:26 p.m., when the suspect pulled two knives from a bag and stabbed the male victim in the abdomen as he stood at a street crossing with his wife after exiting the subway. The attacker then continued north along Seventh Avenue toward 42nd Street, where she stabbed the second victim — a woman — in a similarly unprovoked manner.

"In what appears to be a random and unprovoked attack," NYPD Commissioner Jessica Tisch said at a press briefing, describing both incidents. The suspect then fled toward the NYPD substation in Times Square, where officers confronted her.

Officers spent four minutes issuing commands for the suspect to drop the knives. She refused. "During the encounter, she told the officers, 'I'm not dropping anything. I would rather kill both of you.' She repeated, 'I will kill you,'" Tisch said. Officers deployed tasers twice before two officers discharged their service weapons at 4:27 p.m., striking her.

The suspect, identified by police as 49-year-old Pamela Cisneros of Queens, was pronounced dead at a hospital. Tisch confirmed Cisneros had a "documented mental health history." Two knives were recovered from the scene, and the NYPD released a photograph of the weapons.

Police officials emphasised that the incident is not terror-related and that Cisneros appeared to be emotionally disturbed. The NYPD will conduct an internal investigation, and body-worn camera footage will be released to the public, Mayor Zohran Mamdani said.

"I want to thank the NYPD officers who stepped in and prevented a horrific attack from becoming even worse," Mamdani said at the press briefing. "This is what the men and women of this department do every single day to keep our city safe."

Mamdani also addressed the role of mental health crisis response units his administration has been developing through a newly created Office of Community Safety. He said such units would not be deployed in situations involving an active threat of violence. "What we are speaking about is an alleged perpetrator who stabbed two individuals before then being engaged by police. We know that those families' lives have been shattered by what took place today," he said.

Witnesses at the scene described the shock of the attack unfolding in one of New York City's busiest public spaces. Clyde Benjamin, who works in Times Square, said he recognised the signs of a mental health crisis immediately. "I knew it was mental health issues. That's a big epidemic out here, bro. We gotta get that under control," he said.

Bob Blomeley recounted being swung at by a stranger on the subway earlier the same day. He said he remained focused on situational awareness. "It's just on us to be mindful of staying aware of our surroundings and the people that are in it, and making good choices," he said.

A tourist visiting from Ireland said the incident was unlike anything she had encountered at home. "We're from Ireland, where we don't see this at all. It's the first time I've ever seen anything like this. And you don't see police officers with guns," she said after witnessing the events on Monday.

Source: Google News JM — Crime