A Times Square stabbing left one person dead and another hospitalized after police fatally shot the alleged attacker Monday afternoon. The incident unfolded near Seventh Avenue and West 41st Street in Manhattan, where police received several emergency calls around 4:24 p.m. reporting a woman attacking people with two knives. Authorities identified the suspect as Pamela Cisneros, a 49-year-old woman from Queens, New York. According to investigators, Cisneros allegedly approached a 68-year-old man shortly after he exited a nearby subway station. A witness reportedly saw the woman remove two knives from a red shopping bag before approaching the man.
The man suffered an abdominal stab wound during what police described as a random and unprovoked attack. Emergency responders transported him to Bellevue Hospital, where doctors listed his condition as stable. However, the situation escalated moments later as the suspect continued north along Seventh Avenue. Police said Cisneros then approached a 32-year-old woman near West 42nd Street and allegedly stabbed her in the abdomen. The second victim received emergency medical treatment but later died at Bellevue Hospital. Police said the two attacks occurred roughly 20 seconds apart, creating an urgent emergency in the crowded Times Square area.
Meanwhile, officers quickly located Cisneros between West 42nd and West 43rd Streets, according to authorities. Officers found her still carrying both knives and repeatedly ordered her to drop the weapons. Police said officers spent approximately four minutes attempting to persuade her to surrender. According to investigators, Cisneros refused the commands and threatened officers while continuing to hold both weapons. She then allegedly waved the knives and moved toward officers, prompting them to take further action. Several officers deployed Tasers, but the devices failed to stop the suspect.
Two officers subsequently fired their service weapons, striking Cisneros and ending the immediate threat, police said. Emergency personnel transported her to Bellevue Hospital, where doctors later pronounced her dead. Police recovered both knives at the scene and secured the surrounding area as investigators began examining evidence. The Times Square stabbing investigation remains ongoing as authorities work to establish the full sequence of events. Police have not publicly identified the two victims while officials notify their families about the death and injury.
Authorities also said they currently have no evidence indicating that terrorism motivated the attack. Cisneros reportedly had previous interactions with police involving mental health concerns during 2018 and 2019. However, authorities said she did not have an arrest history with the New York Police Department. Investigators are now reviewing witness accounts, surveillance recordings, police body-camera footage, and other evidence connected with the violence. The police shooting also triggered a separate review of the officers’ actions during the confrontation.
Mayor Zohran Mamdani said officials will conduct an internal investigation into the police shooting and release body-camera footage connected with the confrontation. He also expressed condolences to the victims’ families while thanking officers who responded to the rapidly developing emergency. Officials emphasized the difficulty of managing such a dangerous situation in one of Manhattan’s busiest public areas, where residents, tourists, workers, and commuters gather throughout the day.
The Times Square stabbing therefore prompted an extensive police response while investigators secured the area and gathered evidence. Authorities continue examining the circumstances surrounding both attacks and the subsequent police shooting. The surviving victim remains hospitalized in stable condition, while investigators continue determining what led to the violence. Officials have not announced any additional suspects in connection with the incident, and the investigation remains active.
