Crime & Public Safety
Times Square stabbing leaves victim and suspect dead
A woman stabbed two people in New York’s Times Square on Monday, killing one victim, before police shot and killed her, city officials said.
Mayor Zohran Mamdani announced the deaths at a press conference and said the injured victim was in stable condition in hospital.
New York Police Commissioner Jessica Tisch identified the attacker as Pamela Cisneros, a 49-year-old Queens resident. Tisch said Cisneros was known to have mental health issues.
Tisch said Cisneros pulled two large knives from a bag bearing the logo of a well-known supermarket chain and threatened passersby in daylight. She then stabbed a 68-year-old man in the abdomen and, about 20 seconds later, stabbed a 32-year-old woman in the abdomen. The woman later died.
The victims’ identities were not released pending notification of their families.
Tisch said officers tried for four minutes to persuade Cisneros to drop the knives and gave repeated commands. Police said they used a stun gun unsuccessfully before firing their handguns.
A witness told local TV outlet PIX11 that the suspect had two knives, was tased by police and then rushed at officers. “They shot her twice,” the witness said.
Local news reports said Cisneros was pronounced dead at hospital. Tisch said police do not believe the attack was terror-related.
An AFP journalist saw a large emergency services presence and officials inspecting a patch of blood in Times Square.
Update
Police Commissioner Jessica Tisch identified the attacker as 49-year-old Queens resident Pamela Cisneros.
Tisch said Cisneros was known to have mental health issues.
Tisch said the attacker pulled two large knives from a supermarket-logo bag and threatened passersby.
Police said a 68-year-old man was stabbed in the abdomen before a 32-year-old woman was stabbed and later died.
Police said officers tried to persuade the attacker to drop the knives for four minutes and unsuccessfully used a stun gun before firing.
Tisch said police do not believe the attack was terror-related.
Source note: AFP news report published on 1 September 2026 at 02:38:53 UTC.
Update
Police reportedly do not believe the Times Square stabbing was terror-related.
An AFP journalist saw a large emergency services presence and officials inspecting a patch of blood in Times Square.
Source note: AFP news report published on 1 September 2026 at 00:48:56 UTC.
Update
New York Mayor Zohran Mamdani said the second victim was in hospital in stable condition.
Source note: AFP news report published on 1 September 2026 at 00:32:14 UTC.
Update
New York's mayor said the attacker and one victim were dead.
Source note: AFP news report published on 1 September 2026 at 00:21:16 UTC.
Update
Local reports said the suspect was taken to hospital in critical condition.
Police reportedly do not believe the stabbing was terror-related and are examining the woman's mental health.
A witness told PIX11 that the suspect had two knives, was tased and rushed at officers before being shot.
Source note: AFP news report published on 31 August 2026 at 23:05:54 UTC.
Uncertainty notes
The full sequence and circumstances of the police shooting remain under investigation.
The public identities of the victims have not been released.
Source
AFP news report published on .