Up to date Aug. 31, 2026, 9:44 p.m. ET
A lady carrying a number of knives fatally stabbed one particular person and wounded one other in what police described as a random assault in New York Metropolis’s Occasions Sq. on Aug. 31 earlier than she was shot and killed by officers, authorities mentioned.
New York Metropolis police acquired a number of 911 calls at about 4:24 p.m. native time reporting a girl armed with two knives stabbing individuals in Occasions Sq., in line with New York Metropolis Police Commissioner Jessica Tisch. A preliminary investigation signifies that the assault unfolded close to West forty first Avenue and Seventh Avenue.
The suspect, recognized as 49-year-old Pamela Cisneros of Queens, approached a person who had simply exited a subway station and was standing together with his spouse ready to cross the road, Tisch mentioned. A witness informed investigators Cisneros eliminated two knives from a pink Goal bag earlier than approaching the person.
The suspect then allegedly waved the knives earlier than stabbing the 68-year-old man in the suitable facet of the stomach, in line with the police commissioner. The person was taken to Bellevue Hospital and was listed in steady situation.
Moments later, Cisneros stabbed a 32-year-old girl within the stomach, Tisch mentioned. The lady was transported to the hospital, the place she was pronounced useless.
Police referred to as the 2 stabbings, which occurred inside about 20 seconds of each other, “random and unprovoked.” Authorities haven’t launched the names of the victims pending household notification. Each Tisch and Mayor Zohran Mamdani expressed condolences to the victims and their households.
“We all know that these households’ lives have been shattered by what occurred right now, and we are going to proceed to carry them shut because the hours and days and weeks proceed from this second,” Mamdani mentioned throughout an night information convention.
Officers confronted suspect after assault
After the stabbings, the suspect continued northbound on Seventh Avenue earlier than witnesses flagged down close by officers, Tisch mentioned. Officers discovered the girl between West forty second and West forty third streets whereas officers mentioned she was nonetheless carrying each knives.
In line with Tisch, officers spent about 4 minutes trying to de-escalate the state of affairs and repeatedly ordering the girl to drop the knives.
The lady allegedly refused to to drop the knives and informed officers, “I am not dropping something. I’d moderately kill each of you,” the police commissioner mentioned.
“A number of officers discharged tasers, which proved to be ineffective, and the topic continued to advance in direction of our officers with the knives,” Tisch added.
The officers then fired on the suspect, placing her, in line with Tisch. She was later pronounced useless on the hospital.
The taking pictures was captured on officers’ body-worn cameras, and metropolis officers mentioned the footage shall be launched publicly following normal procedures. An inner investigation has additionally been opened, in line with officers.
Police: Suspect had documented psychological well being historical past
Cisneros had no arrest historical past with the New York Police Division however had a documented psychological well being historical past with incidents in 2018 and 2019, in line with Tisch.
Authorities declined to supply further particulars about these incidents or focus on what introduced Cisneros to Occasions Sq. on Aug. 31, citing the continued investigation.
“At this level within the investigation, we’ve no motive to consider this incident was an act of terrorism,” Tisch mentioned. “This was an awfully harmful state of affairs unfolding within the coronary heart of Occasions Sq., the crossroads of the world.”
