New York City police shot and killed a woman on Monday after she stabbed two people in Times Square, city authorities confirmed. The incident, described as "random and unprovoked" by Police Commissioner Jessica Tisch, involved 49-year-old Pamela Cisneros of Queens.
Ms Cisneros, reportedly with previous mental health problems, used two knives to stab a 68-year-old man in the abdomen and then a woman in the stomach. Police confronted Ms Cisneros and attempted to de-escalate the situation for approximately four minutes, but she did not drop her knives. Commissioner Tisch stated that Ms Cisneros told police: "I'm not dropping anything, I would rather kill both of you."
Officers used stun guns in an attempt to subdue Ms Cisneros, but she continued to advance towards them with the knives. Two officers then fired their service weapons. All three individuals involved – Ms Cisneros and the two victims – were taken to Bellevue hospital, where Ms Cisneros and the female victim were pronounced dead. The male victim is in stable condition.
New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani and Commissioner Tisch have defended the officers' use of lethal force, though the incident will be investigated, which is standard procedure for officer-involved shootings in New York.