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A knife attack in New York City’s busy Times Square has left one person dead and another injured after a woman allegedly attacked two passersby before being shot dead by police.
The incident occurred on Monday in the popular tourist district, where police responded after the suspect, identified as 49-year-old Queens resident Pamela Cisneros, allegedly confronted people while carrying two large knives.
New York Police Commissioner Jessica Tisch said Cisneros first attacked a 68-year-old man, stabbing him in the abdomen. About 20 seconds later, she allegedly stabbed a 32-year-old woman in the abdomen.
The woman later died from her injuries, while the male victim was taken to hospital and remained in stable condition, Mayor Zohran Mamdani said.
Authorities have not released the identities of the victims pending notification of their families.
Police officers at the scene reportedly spent several minutes attempting to convince Cisneros to put down the knives.
According to Tisch, the officers repeatedly ordered her to drop the weapons during a four-minute exchange, but she refused.
The police commissioner said Cisneros told the officers:
“I’m not dropping anything. I would rather kill both of you.”
Officers subsequently deployed a stun gun, but it failed to stop the woman, according to police. She then moved towards the officers, prompting them to open fire.
Cisneros was shot twice and taken to hospital, where local reports said she was pronounced dead.
Police said they were investigating the circumstances surrounding the attack and did not believe it was terrorism-related.
Tisch described the incident as an extremely dangerous situation given the large number of people who typically pass through Times Square.
“This was an extraordinarily dangerous situation unfolding in the heart of Times Square, the crossroads of the world.”
She noted that thousands of New Yorkers, commuters, tourists, families and workers can be present in the area at any given time.
The suspect was reportedly known to have mental health issues. Police said she had removed the knives from a bag bearing the logo of a major supermarket chain before the attacks.
The incident drew a significant emergency response, with officials seen examining blood at the scene as investigators worked to establish the full circumstances surrounding the stabbing.
