New York: A violent stabbing incident in the heart of New York City’s Times Square left one woman dead and another person injured after a 49-year-old woman allegedly carried out two apparently random and unprovoked attacks before being fatally shot by police.
The incident took place on Monday afternoon, August 31, near Seventh Avenue and West 42nd Street, one of the busiest areas of Times Square. According to police, the suspect attacked two people within seconds of each other.
Two People Stabbed in Quick Succession
Police said the suspect, identified as 49-year-old Pamela Cisneros of Queens, pulled two knives from a shopping bag and approached a 68-year-old man near West 41st Street.
The man was stabbed in the abdomen and taken to Bellevue Hospital. He was initially reported to have life-threatening injuries but was later listed in stable condition.
The suspect then allegedly moved toward a 32-year-old woman and stabbed her in the abdomen. The woman was rushed to the hospital but died from her injuries. Authorities have not immediately released the victims’ identities pending notification of their families.
Police Confronted Knife-Wielding Suspect
Following the attacks, Cisneros reportedly fled toward an NYPD substation in Times Square, where officers confronted her while she was still carrying the knives.
Police repeatedly ordered her to drop the weapons and attempted to subdue her with a Taser. However, authorities said the woman continued advancing toward officers while refusing to surrender the knives.
After the less-lethal effort failed, officers opened fire. Cisneros was critically wounded and transported to Bellevue Hospital, where she later died.
Authorities Say Attack Was Not Terrorism-Related
Police officials described the stabbings as random and unprovoked and said there was no immediate indication that the incident was terrorism-related.
Authorities also said Cisneros had a history of mental health issues, although investigators were still working to establish what prompted the attacks. Police said she had no known prior arrests.
Investigation Underway
The incident triggered a major police and emergency response in Times Square, with the area crowded with tourists, commuters and families when the attacks occurred.
The circumstances surrounding both the stabbing and the subsequent police shooting remain under investigation. Authorities are expected to review body-camera footage and other evidence as part of the investigation into the officers’ use of deadly force.
The incident has once again raised concerns about public safety in heavily crowded tourist areas of New York City, while officials expressed condolences to the family of the woman who was killed and praised the police response to the rapidly unfolding threat.
