New York police shoot knife-wielding woman after random Times Square stabbing leaves one dead

New York City police officers shot and killed a knife-wielding woman in broad daylight in Times Square on Monday, after she launched an unprovoked stabbing attack that left one person dead and another hospitalized.

The incident triggered a massive emergency response and widespread closures across one of the city's busiest tourist corridors.

How did the Times Square stabbing attack unfold?

New York Police Department (NYPD) Commissioner Jessica Tisch confirmed that the suspect, identified as 49-year-old Queens resident Pamela Cisneros, pulled two large knives from a supermarket bag and began threatening pedestrians near 42nd Street and Seventh Avenue. Cisneros, who had a documented history of mental health incidents, approached a 68-year-old man and stabbed him in the abdomen. Just 20 seconds later, she attacked a 32-year-old woman, inflicting fatal abdominal wounds.

Nearby NYPD officers intervened immediately, engaging Cisneros in dialogue for approximately four minutes and issuing repeated commands for her to drop the weapons. According to Commissioner Tisch, Cisneros refused to comply, warning officers: "I'm not dropping anything. I would rather kill both of you."

According to CBS News and The Guardian, officers attempted to neutralize the suspect using Tasers. When the stun guns proved ineffective, and Cisneros advanced toward the officers, two police officers fired handguns, hitting her twice. Cisneros was transported to a local hospital, where she was pronounced dead.

How did authorities respond to the scene?

New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani addressed the public during a joint press conference at the scene, confirming that the 32-year-old female victim succumbed to her injuries while the 68-year-old male victim remains in stable condition at a nearby hospital. Mayor Mamdani commended the responding officers for acting swiftly to prevent further loss of life in a densely populated public area.

Coverage from The New York Times and NBC New York highlights that police authorities do not believe the attack was connected to terrorism. The NYPD's Force Investigation Division has opened a standard inquiry into the officer-involved shooting, with officials promising to release body-worn camera footage to the public in accordance with city policy.