Woman fatally stabs one, injures another in New York City’s Times Square before being shot by police

A woman armed with two knives fatally stabbed a woman and injured a man in New York City’s Times Square on Monday (31 August), in an attack police described as random and unprovoked.

The New York City Police Department received multiple emergency calls at about 4.24pm reporting a woman stabbing people near West 41st Street and Seventh Avenue, Police Commissioner Jessica Tisch said.

The suspect was identified as 49-year-old Pamela Cisneros of Queens.

Police said Cisneros first approached a 68-year-old man who had just exited a subway station and was waiting to cross the street with his wife.

A witness told investigators that she took two knives from a red Target bag before approaching him.

The man was stabbed in the right side of his abdomen and taken to Bellevue Hospital, where he was listed in stable condition.

Cisneros then allegedly attacked a 32-year-old woman, stabbing her in the abdomen.

The woman was taken to hospital but later died.

The two attacks happened within about 20 seconds of each other, according to police.

Officers open fire after confrontation

Cisneros fled north along Seventh Avenue following the stabbings and was later located by officers between West 42nd and West 43rd streets.

Police said she was still carrying both knives when officers confronted her.

Tisch said officers spent about four minutes attempting to de-escalate the situation and repeatedly ordered Cisneros to drop the weapons.

According to the commissioner, Cisneros refused and told officers, “I’m not dropping anything. I would rather kill both of you.”

Several officers then deployed tasers, but they were ineffective.

Police said Cisneros continued advancing towards the officers with the knives, prompting them to fire their weapons.

Cisneros was struck by gunfire and taken to hospital, where she was later pronounced dead.

The police shooting was captured on body-worn cameras.

Officials said the footage would be released publicly in accordance with standard procedures, while an internal investigation into the shooting has been opened.

Police find no initial indication of terrorism

Tisch said Cisneros had no previous arrest history with the NYPD but had a documented mental health history involving incidents in 2018 and 2019.

Authorities have not released further details about those incidents or what brought Cisneros to Times Square, citing the ongoing investigation.

Police said there was no reason at this stage to believe the attack was terrorism-related.

New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani expressed condolences to the victims and their families, saying the incident had caused devastating consequences for those affected.