RismadarVoice Reporters, September 1, 2026
A 49-year-old woman was shot dead by police after allegedly stabbing two people at random in New York City’s Times Square on Monday afternoon.
The suspect, identified as Pamela Cisneros, reportedly pulled two knives from a shopping bag and attacked the victims in the abdomen near a police building in the busy tourist district.
Cisneros, a resident of Queens, was known to have mental health issues, according to New York City Police Department Commissioner Jessica Tisch.
Police said the suspect first stabbed a 68-year-old man before turning about 20 seconds later and attacking a 32-year-old woman.
The 32-year-old woman died from her injuries, while the man was reported to be in stable condition, New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani said at a press conference.
Following the attack, police officers confronted Cisneros and attempted to persuade her to drop the knives.
According to Tisch, officers engaged her in dialogue for about four minutes and repeatedly ordered her to put down the weapons, but she refused.
During the encounter, the suspect allegedly told officers: “I’m not dropping anything. I would rather kill both of you.”
Police said Cisneros was subsequently seen charging towards officers while armed with the knives.
Officers first attempted to subdue her with a Taser before drawing their firearms. At least two shots were heard, after which Cisneros fell to the ground and died.
The NYPD said the incident was not believed to be terror-related.
An unverified video circulating on social media appeared to show a woman standing in the middle of the busy intersection, brandishing knives before charging towards police officers as tourists gathered around to watch and record the incident.
The NYPD said the officer-involved shooting occurred at about 4:27 p.m. local time, but declined to provide further details.
Times Square is one of the world’s busiest tourist destinations, with an estimated 330,000 people passing through the area daily.
The shooting occurred near One Times Square, the building associated with New York City’s annual New Year’s Eve ball-drop celebration.
Police advised members of the public to avoid the intersection of West 42nd Street and Seventh Avenue and warned of traffic and other delays in the area.
Dozens of emergency vehicles and police cars were deployed to the scene as authorities commenced investigations.
The circumstances surrounding the attack and police shooting remain under investigation.
Earlier on Monday, a man was reportedly stabbed in the head at the Times Square subway station in a separate incident.
Police are searching for a male suspect who allegedly fled after a verbal dispute on the subway platform escalated into a physical confrontation.
