A woman was fatally shot by police Monday afternoon in Times Square after stabbing two pedestrians, including one who later died, and threatening officers with knives, according to New York Police Department officials. The incident took place near West 41st Street and Seventh Avenue just before 4:30 p.m.

Authorities identified the suspect as Pamela Cisneros, 49, from Queens. NYPD Commissioner Jessica Tisch reported that Cisneros began the attack by stabbing a 68-year-old man in the abdomen as he was exiting the subway, waiting to cross the street. She then continued north to West 42nd Street, where she fatally stabbed a 32-year-old woman in an unprovoked assault.

Following the stabbings, Cisneros was located about a block away behind an NYPD substation, brandishing two knives and threatening officers. According to Tisch, law enforcement engaged with her for approximately four minutes, issuing repeated commands to drop the weapons. During the confrontation, Cisneros reportedly declared, “I’m not dropping anything, I would rather kill both of you. I will kill you.”

Officers attempted to subdue her using Tasers multiple times, but these efforts were unsuccessful. Cisneros continued approaching the officers while wielding the knives, prompting two officers to discharge their firearms. She was struck and subsequently pronounced dead at Bellevue Hospital.

The entire sequence of stabbings and the ensuing police shooting unfolded within about 20 minutes, prompting panic among locals and tourists in the area. Eyewitnesses described scenes of chaos, with people running for safety as first responders attended to victims on the street. One delivery worker recounted seeing a man wounded on the ground with visible bleeding while officers provided aid.

Cisneros had a documented history of mental illness in NYPD records, with prior incidents reported in 2018 and 2019, though she had no previous arrests. The knives used in the attacks were reported to be kitchen knives, reportedly carried in a red Target shopping bag.

Mayor Mamdani and Commissioner Tisch addressed the press Monday evening, emphasizing that the incident was not believed to be linked to terrorism and that the motive remains unclear. An internal investigation into the use of force is underway, with body camera footage reviewed as part of the process.

“This was an extraordinarily dangerous situation unfolding in the heart of Times Square,” Tisch said. “Our officers were confronted with a rapidly evolving threat with countless innocent people around them. In that moment, they did what we trained them to do. But tonight, our thoughts are, of course, with the victims.”

Mayor Mamdani expressed gratitude to the responding officers, stating, “This is what the men and women of this department do every single day to keep this city safe.”