A 49-year-old woman allegedly stabbed two people in New York City’s Times Square on Monday afternoon. Pamela Cisneros, 49, of Queens, killed one woman and injured a man, before she was shot dead by police, police said.
The attacker pulled two large kitchen knives from a shopping bag and approached a 68-year-old man who had just exited a subway station and was waiting with his wife to cross the street, New York Police Commissioner Jessica Tisch said in a press conference. Seconds later, Cisneros allegedly approached a 32-year-old woman and stabbed her in the abdomen as well, Tisch said. The attacks took place within roughly 20 seconds, according to police. The 32-year-old woman died from her injuries, while the 68-year-old man remained hospitalised in stable condition, officials said.
Police have not released the victims’ names pending notification of their families.
Two officers then opened fire and shot her, Tisch said. Tisch also praised the officers and said the incident was an “extraordinarily dangerous situation unfolding in the heart of Times Square, the crossroads of the world. The man was stabbed in the abdomen. Both victims were taken to Bellevue Hospital. Several officers used tasers, but they failed to stop her as she continued moving towards them with the knives. Police tape was placed around the area as officers and emergency workers investigated the scene. More than a dozen police and emergency vehicles were seen in the area.
