Police officers attempted to de-escalate a knife attack by a woman in Times Square before fatally shooting her, according to newly released body camera footage and police reports. The incident occurred on August 31 in Midtown Manhattan, when Pamela Cisneros, 49, armed with two kitchen knives, stabbed two people, killing one.
Cisneros had entered the area carrying a Target shopping bag containing two large knives. She first attacked Tak Kam, 68, and then walked about a block before fatally stabbing Erin Piacenti, 32. Shortly thereafter, police officers engaged Cisneros in an encounter that lasted approximately four minutes, during which they repeatedly tried to calm her and encourage her to drop the weapons.
The body camera videos, released by the New York Police Department as part of their investigation, show officer Ryan Brito and several other officers speaking to Cisneros near One Times Square. Throughout the encounter, Cisneros expressed feelings of despair, telling officers she was "tired of this world" and challenging them to "come and get me." Officer Brito responded with calm appeals, at times speaking in Spanish and sharing that he too had faced struggles, attempting to persuade her to surrender peacefully.
As backup arrived and more officers surrounded Cisneros, the situation escalated. Despite nearly 20 commands to drop the knives, she remained armed and eventually began moving toward the officers with the weapons raised. Officers discharged multiple Tasers, which appeared ineffective. At approximately 4:29 p.m., when Cisneros advanced rapidly toward an officer, officers Joseph O’Connor and Steven Darcy discharged their firearms, firing multiple rounds that struck her. Emergency medical personnel transported Cisneros to Bellevue Hospital, where she later died.
The shooting, captured on video by bystanders and widely circulated on social media, has reignited discussions about police responses to individuals experiencing mental health crises. Cisneros’s family has stated she lived with severe mental illness for many years.
Authorities, including the NYPD's Force Investigation Division and the state attorney general’s office, are conducting a joint inquiry into the incident. Police Commissioner Jessica S. Tisch has defended the officers’ actions, stating they followed their training.
Experts in law enforcement have assessed the footage, with some describing the use of deadly force as consistent with department guidelines. Kenneth Corey, a former NYPD chief of department, noted the complexity of such encounters, emphasizing that while officers may always have options seen in hindsight, the unpredictable nature of armed confrontations often limits alternatives.
The case continues to draw attention to the difficult decisions law enforcement faces when addressing violent incidents involving individuals in mental distress, underscoring ongoing debates about the role of mental health professionals in crisis intervention scenarios. The NYPD declined additional comment following the release of the body camera videos.