Woman fatally shot by NYPD after stabbing two people in Times Square

Fatal Shooting in Times Square

A 49-year-old woman was fatally shot by New York City police officers in Times Square on Monday after she allegedly stabbed two people in what authorities described as a random and unprovoked attack. The woman, identified as Pamela Cisneros of Queens, was pronounced dead at Bellevue Hospital after being struck by officers' gunfire.

The incident began shortly after 4:20 m. near West 41st Street and Seventh Avenue, according to police. NYPD Commissioner Jessica Tisch said Cisneros pulled two knives from a red shopping bag and approached a 68-year-old man who had just left a subway station and was waiting to cross the street with his wife. She allegedly stabbed him in the abdomen before moving north along Seventh Avenue and attacking a 32-year-old woman moments later. The two stabbings occurred within about 20 seconds of each other, police said.

Both victims were taken to Bellevue Hospital, where the woman was pronounced dead. The male victim remained in stable condition.

The Confrontation

After the stabbings, witnesses alerted officers, and police encountered Cisneros on Seventh Avenue between West 42nd and West 43rd streets. According to Commissioner Tisch, officers spent about four minutes speaking to her and repeatedly ordered her to drop the knives. She refused, and Tisch said Cisneros told officers, "I'm not dropping anything. I would rather kill both of you."

Police said Cisneros continued waving the knives and advancing toward officers. Multiple officers deployed Tasers, but the less-lethal option failed to stop her. Two officers then fired their service weapons, striking Cisneros. She was taken to Bellevue Hospital, where she was pronounced dead. Two knives were recovered from the scene.

Official Response and Investigation

NYPD Commissioner Jessica Tisch defended the officers' response, saying they acted as they were trained to do. New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani thanked the officers, saying they intervened to prevent the attack from becoming worse. Mamdani said an internal investigation would take place, and officials have said body-camera footage will eventually be released.

The NYPD has not announced charges against the officers involved. The police shooting is being investigated, as is standard in officer-involved shootings.

Tisch said Cisneros had a documented mental-health history with the NYPD, including incidents in 2018 and 2019, but had no arrest history. Authorities have said there is currently no indication that the attack was terrorism-related.

Legal Context

New York Penal Law Section 35.30 governs the use of physical force by police officers while making an arrest or preventing an escape, and Section 35.15 provides the broader justification framework for the use of deadly physical force in defense of a person. NYPD's use-of-force policy does not require officers to move through force options in a fixed sequence, allowing them to escalate or de-escalate depending on how an encounter develops.