A violent incident in the heart of Times Square on Monday afternoon ended with police fatally shooting a woman after she stabbed two people; one victim later died from their injuries. The New York Police Department (NYPD) identified the woman as Pamela Cisneros, 49, and said she was known to authorities because of her mental health history.
The attack unfolded near 41st Street and Seventh Avenue, a busy area crowded with tourists. Information from NYPD officials, Cisneros randomly stabbed a 68-year-old man in the abdomen as he exited the subway and waited to cross the street. Within seconds, she continued to 42nd Street, where she fatally stabbed a 32-year-old woman, also in the abdomen.
Police found Cisneros a block away, behind a police substation, brandishing two kitchen knives. Officers tried to de-escalate the situation, repeatedly ordering her to drop the weapons during a four-minute standoff. Cisneros refused and threatened to kill the officers as she advanced toward them.
Authorities deployed several Tasers, but they proved ineffective. As Cisneros kept approaching, two officers fired at close range, striking her. She was taken to Bellevue Hospital, where she was pronounced dead. The NYPD said there was no indication of a terrorist motive behind the attack.
The incident lasted about 20 minutes, from the initial stabbing to the police shooting, and caused chaos in the area. Tourists and bystanders fled in panic as the confrontation unfolded in full public view and was captured on multiple cameras. Videos circulating on social media showed Cisneros, dressed in a pink shirt and jeans, waving knives in front of police and a large crowd.
Police said Cisneros had carried the knives in a bag from a nearby store before launching the attacks. NYPD Commissioner Jessica Tisch outlined the sequence of events at a press conference, emphasizing the officers’ attempts to resolve the situation without lethal force.
Times Square, one of New York’s most visited locations, has seen heightened security in recent years because of its status as a major tourist destination. Incidents involving people with mental health challenges have prompted ongoing discussions about public safety and the resources available for intervention. The NYPD has protocols for responding to such crises, but the rapid escalation in this case left little time for other measures.
New York City continues to face challenges in balancing public safety with mental health support, especially in high-traffic areas. The incident highlights the difficulties police face when confronting armed individuals in crowded urban environments. Authorities are reviewing the officers’ actions and the circumstances leading up to the fatal encounter.
