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Times Square stabbing and shooting
A woman fatally stabbed two people in Times Square in New York on Monday afternoon before NYPD officers fatally shot her after she refused to put down two knives.
“random and unprovoked" attack”
Police said the stabbing began near 42nd and Seventh Avenue just before 4:30 p.m., and the suspect then fled north toward the NYPD substation where police confronted her.
ABC7 New York reported that the attack was described as a "random and unprovoked" attack, with a 32-year-old woman dying at a hospital and a 68-year-old man taken to a hospital with life-threatening injuries that later stabilized.
NYPD Commissioner Jessica Tisch said officers fired at 4:27 p.m. after the suspect refused to drop the knives, and two knives were recovered at the scene, according to ABC7 New York.
Commands, threats, and video
During the police encounter, Tisch said officers gave the suspect numerous commands to drop the knives, but she refused and told them, "I'm not dropping anything. I would rather kill both of you."
Tisch also said the suspect repeated, "I will kill you," as officers deployed Tasers before two officers discharged their service weapons.
CBS News New York reported that the commissioner characterized the incident as an "unprovoked double stabbing" and said the suspect had a documented mental health history with the NYPD with incidents in 2018 and 2019 but no arrests.
Mayor Zohran Mamdani said the body-worn camera footage will be released to the public, and ABC7 New York quoted him thanking NYPD officers for preventing the attack from becoming worse.
Investigation and public safety
Police said the incident is not terror-related and that investigators have no reason to believe it was an act of terrorism, while the NYPD continued an investigation after the shooting.
“Expect traffic delays, road closures, mass transit disruptions & emergency personnel”
NYPD told the public on social media to expect "traffic delays, road closures, mass transit disruptions & emergency personnel near 42nd Street & 7th Avenue, Manhattan" and to avoid the area, according to CBS News.
Spectrum News NY1 reported that the NYPD said the suspect and the 32-year-old female victim had died, while the 68-year-old male victim was expected to survive, and it said five people were hospitalized including two police officers.
The NYPD and Mayor Zohran Mamdani said an internal investigation will take place and body-camera footage will be released, as Spectrum News NY1 reported.