Two people have died following a shocking knife attack in the heart of New York City’s Times Square, with police shooting the female suspect after she allegedly refused repeated orders to drop her weapons.
The incident happened in broad daylight on Monday in the busy tourist district, where crowds of visitors and workers were caught up in the unfolding confrontation.
New York Mayor Zohran Mamdani confirmed the deaths during a press briefing. He said another person who was wounded in the attack was taken to hospital and remained in stable condition.
Police identified the suspect as 49-year-old Pamela Cisneros, a resident of Queens who authorities said had a known history of mental health problems.
According to Police Commissioner Jessica Tisch, Cisneros pulled two large knives from a bag carrying the logo of a major supermarket chain. She then reportedly began threatening people in the area.
Investigators said the woman approached a 68-year-old man and stabbed him in the abdomen. About 20 seconds later, she allegedly attacked a 32-year-old woman, also stabbing her in the abdomen. The woman later died from her injuries.
The identities of the victims have not been made public as authorities work to notify their relatives.
Officers responding to the scene initially attempted to resolve the situation without using deadly force. Tisch said police officers spent approximately four minutes speaking to Cisneros and repeatedly instructed her to put down the knives.
She allegedly refused.
According to the police commissioner, Cisneros told officers: “I’m not dropping anything. I would rather kill both of you.”
A witness interviewed by local television station PIX11 said the woman was holding two knives and that officers used a Taser before she moved toward them.
Police later confirmed that the stun gun was unsuccessful and officers ultimately fired their handguns.
Cisneros was taken to hospital, where local reports said she was pronounced dead.
Authorities said there was no indication that the incident was connected to terrorism.
“This was an extraordinarily dangerous situation unfolding in the heart of Times Square, the crossroads of the world,” Tisch said.
The attack has once again highlighted the challenges faced by police responding to violent incidents in one of New York’s busiest public spaces, where thousands of people pass through each day.
