Times Square Stabbing Leaves 1 Dead Suspect Shot

Times Square Stabbing Leaves 1 Dead, Suspect Shot

Woman attacks two people with knives in busy New York tourist area

A deadly stabbing in New York City’s Times Square has left one woman dead and another person injured after a knife-wielding woman attacked two people Monday afternoon. Police later fatally shot the suspect after she refused repeated orders to drop two large kitchen knives and moved toward officers.

The incident happened shortly before 4:30 p.m. near a New York Police Department substation outside One Times Square, one of the city’s most famous and heavily monitored tourist locations. The area is also known worldwide as the site of New York’s annual New Year’s Eve ball drop.

According to Police Commissioner Jessica Tisch, the 49-year-old woman from Queens pulled two knives from a shopping bag and attacked a 68-year-old man who had just exited a subway station. The man was waiting to cross the street with his wife when he was stabbed in the abdomen.

Second Victim Also Attacked

Police said the suspect then stabbed a 32-year-old woman in the abdomen only seconds later. Both victims were taken to a hospital for treatment. The 32-year-old woman later died, while the 68-year-old man remained in stable condition, according to police.

Officers surrounded the suspect and spent several minutes trying to persuade her to put down the knives. Police then used a Taser, but it failed to stop her. According to Tisch, the woman threatened officers and said she would rather kill them than surrender the weapons.

Police Open Fire After Knife Threat

Videos shared on social media showed the woman moving toward officers while holding the knives. Police said two officers eventually fired their weapons, striking the woman. Officers then handcuffed her and provided first aid at the scene, but she was fatally wounded.

Authorities said the suspect had a documented mental health history involving the NYPD, including incidents in 2018 and 2019. Police said she had no arrest history with the department. Investigators have not released further details about her background.

Police Rule Out Terrorism Link

Police are continuing to investigate the circumstances surrounding the attack. Commissioner Tisch said there was no evidence at this stage indicating that the incident was connected to terrorism. Authorities have also not confirmed whether the victims were tourists or New York residents.

The incident temporarily forced police to close part of 7th Avenue while officers secured the area and investigated the scene. Police tape surrounded the location as a large number of law enforcement officers worked near the busy Times Square intersection.

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New York Crime Context

The deadly incident comes despite a significant decline in violent crime across New York City this year. Police statistics cited in the report show that homicides are down 24 percent and could reach their lowest level in decades. However, Monday’s incident marks the second killing reported in Times Square this year after a man was fatally stabbed in the area in May.

New York Mayor Zohran Mamdani and Commissioner Tisch praised the responding officers, saying their actions may have prevented additional injuries or deaths. Authorities have not yet released the names of the two victims as they work to notify their families.