The attack on pedestrians

On Monday afternoon, 31 August 2026, violence occurred in the heart of Times Square in New York City shortly before 16:30 local time. Authorities identified the attacker as Pamela Cisneros, a 49-year-old woman residing in Queens. Cisneros retrieved two knives from a supermarket chain bag and carried out unprovoked stabbings against two passersby within a span of 20 seconds. She first struck a 68-year-old man in the abdomen as he emerged from a subway station and waited to cross the street. Cisneros then turned on a 32-year-old woman, inflicting a fatal stab wound to her abdomen in front of crowds of pedestrians.

Confrontation outside police substation

Following the double stabbing, Cisneros moved directly toward an NYPD substation located in the plaza. Video footage recorded by bystanders on mobile devices showed her wearing a pink top, jeans, and a crossbody bag while brandishing two knives and moving them from side to side. Police officers intercepted her and attempted to de-escalate the encounter over a four-minute dialogue, delivering multiple verbal orders to drop her weapons. Cisneros refused every directive.

“I'm not dropping anything. I'd rather kill you.”

An officer initially deployed a taser in an effort to subdue Cisneros with non-lethal force. According to police reports, Cisneros pulled out the electrical probes and continued moving toward the officers with the knives raised. At least one officer discharged a service handgun, firing multiple rounds that caused Cisneros to collapse to the ground as surrounding pedestrians fled the area in panic. A large kitchen knife was subsequently recovered by officers on the pavement outside a nearby souvenir shop.

Casualties and official statements

Emergency medical services arrived at the scene, where blood remained on the sidewalk, and transported all three individuals to area hospitals. The 32-year-old woman died from her abdominal stab wounds shortly after arrival, while the 68-year-old man remained hospitalized in serious condition. Cisneros also died at the hospital from her gunshot wounds. New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani announced the casualties during an on-site press conference.

“With deep sadness, I announce that one of the victims passed away, as did the perpetrator.”

NYPD Police Commissioner Jessica Tisch stated that the identities of both victims would not be released publicly until their families had been formally notified.

Suspect background and inquiry

Investigators from the NYPD cordoned off the intersection to examine the scene, collect surveillance recordings from surrounding storefronts, and interview witnesses. A witness told television station PIX11 News that Cisneros ran past the corner holding two knives before the taser deployment and two subsequent gunshots. Department records revealed that Cisneros had a documented history of psychiatric illness, with police contacts dating back to 2018 and recorded psychiatric incidents in both 2018 and 2019. Police officials stated that the motive behind the stabbings remains unconfirmed, but confirmed that investigators do not treat the event as an act of terrorism.