On Monday, police in New York City shot and killed a woman following an incident in Times Square where she stabbed two individuals. City officials confirmed the details during a press conference. The circumstances leading to the shooting remain under investigation as authorities assess the situation and the actions taken by law enforcement.
Cisneros had a documented history of mental illness, which included two previous incidents occurring in 2018 and 2019, according to the police.
Jessica Tisch, the police commissioner of New York City, called the stabbings “random and unprovoked” actions committed by a woman with a history of mental health issues. Tisch, who examined the body camera recordings of the event, said that Cisneros stated to the officers: “I’m not dropping anything, I would rather kill both of you. Several officers attempted to incapacitate Cisneros using stun guns. However, she persisted in advancing towards them while wielding the knives. Subsequently, two officers discharged their service firearms at Cisneros. This incident was recorded on body cameras, as noted by Tisch. Several videos shared on social media showed Cisneros, dressed in a pink shirt, jeans, and carrying a crossbody purse, as she waved weapons in front of law enforcement and a large gathering of spectators. She was shot after she started limping toward the officers while holding the knives. She, however, had no history of arrest with the department.
All three people – Cisneros and the two victims of the stabbing – were transported to Bellevue Hospital, where both Cisneros and the female victim were declared deceased. The male victim is currently alive and in stable condition. Both Tisch and Zohran Mamdani , the Mayor of New York City, supported the officers’ use of lethal force, although an investigation will take place since it is customary for officer-involved shootings in New York.
