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Times Square Stabbing
New York City police shot and killed 49-year-old Pamela Cisneros of Queens in Times Square on Monday after she stabbed two people, with the stabbings described as “random and unprovoked.”
“she told the officers, quote, “I’m not dropping anything. I would rather kill both of you.””
ABC13 Houston reported that the female stabbing victim and the woman shot by police died from their injuries, while a male victim was in critical condition, and police said the woman refused to put knives down when officers approached.
The New York Times said officers engaged the woman in dialogue for four minutes and gave numerous commands to drop the knives, which she refused, and during the encounter she told officers, “I’m not dropping anything. I would rather kill both of you.”
The Guardian identified the stabbings as “random and unprovoked” and said Tisch described the suspect as having previous mental health problems, with Cisneros wielding two knives as she approached a 68-year-old man and then stabbed a woman in the stomach.
Police Dialogue and Fire
Multiple outlets described the same confrontation in which officers tried to stop Cisneros after she threatened them with knives, and The Guardian said Tisch reviewed body camera footage and reported that Cisneros told police, “I’m not dropping anything, I would rather kill both of you.”
CBS News said Tisch characterized the incident as an “unprovoked double stabbing” and described Cisneros as having a documented mental health history with the NYPD, including incidents in 2018 and 2019, but no arrests.
NBC News quoted Tisch describing the scene as “This was an extraordinarily dangerous situation unfolding in the heart of Times Square, the crossroads of the world,” and said the attacks occurred 20 seconds apart.
Gothamist reported that officers spent about four minutes trying to persuade Cisneros to drop the knives, and that she told officers, “I will kill you,” before advancing toward them and being fatally shot.
Aftermath and Investigation
After the police shooting, Mayor Zohran Mamdani said, “I want to thank the NYPD officers who stepped in and prevented a horrific attack from becoming even worse,” and the Guardian said the shooting will be investigated as standard for officer-involved shootings in New York.
““I want to thank the NYPD officers who stepped in and prevented a horrific attack from becoming even worse,” Mamdani said.”
The NYPD told the public to expect traffic delays, road closures, mass transit disruptions & emergency personnel near 42nd Street & 7th Avenue, Manhattan, while ABC13 Houston reported police were closing traffic from West 42nd street to West 47th Street as the investigation continued.
NBC New York said the NYPD closed off the area from 42nd Street and Seventh Avenue up to 47th Street during the investigation and warned to expect delays in the surrounding blocks.
USA Today reported that Tisch said, “At this point in the investigation, we have no reason to believe this incident was an act of terrorism,” and said an internal investigation had been opened and the body-worn camera footage would be released publicly following standard procedures.