New York City police shot and killed a woman Monday, August 31, after she stabbed two people in Times Square, city authorities said at a press conference.
Police Commissioner Jessica Tisch described the stabbings as “random and unprovoked” and said the suspect had a history of mental health problems, according to foreign media.
The suspect was identified as 49-year-old Pamela Cisneros of Queens. According to Tisch, Cisneros was carrying two knives when she approached a 68-year-old man in Times Square and stabbed him in the abdomen. Moments later, she stabbed a woman in the stomach.
Police soon confronted Cisneros and attempted to stop her. Authorities said officers spoke with her for approximately four minutes but were unable to persuade her to drop the knives.
Tisch, who reviewed body-camera footage of the incident, said Cisneros told officers: “I’m not dropping anything, I would rather kill both of you.”
Several officers then attempted to subdue Cisneros with stun guns, but she continued moving toward them while armed with the knives. Two officers subsequently fired their service weapons, striking Cisneros. The shooting was captured on body-camera footage, Tisch said.
Cisneros and both stabbing victims were taken to Bellevue Hospital. Cisneros and the female victim were pronounced dead, while the 68-year-old man survived and was listed in stable condition.
Tisch and New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani both defended the officers' use of lethal force. The shooting will nevertheless be investigated, as is standard in New York for incidents involving police use of deadly force.
“I want to thank the NYPD officers who stepped in and prevented a horrific attack from becoming even worse,” Mamdani said.
By Tamilla Hasanova
