Times Square Stabbing Spree: 1 Dead, 1 Wounded After Knife Attack in Midday NYC

NEW YORK — A violent midday spree left one victim dead and another wounded in the heart of Midtown Manhattan on Monday, August 31, 2026 after an armed woman launched a chaotic, unprovoked stabbing attack near Seventh Avenue and West 42nd Street. The assailant was subsequently shot and killed by responding officers after refusing to drop her weapons.

The incident unfolded around 4:24 PM when the suspect—identified as 49-year-old Pamela Cisneros of Queens—began wielding bladed weapons in crowded Times Square. Authorities described the violence as a completely random and unprovoked rampage.

The rampage left two victims in its wake, beginning with a 68-year-old man who was approached and stabbed in the abdomen; he was rushed to Bellevue Hospital and remains in stable condition. Moments later, a woman was stabbed in the stomach during the attack and was transported to Bellevue Hospital, where she was tragically pronounced dead from her injuries.

NYPD officers stationed in the area responded to the scene within seconds and confronted Cisneros behind a nearby police substation. According to police leadership and body-camera footage, officers spent nearly four minutes attempting to de-escalate the situation and ordered her to drop the weapons. Cisneros refused to comply, reportedly telling officers, "I'm not dropping anything, I would rather kill both of you," before advancing toward them.

After multiple attempts to subdue her with Tasers failed, two officers fired their service weapons, striking the suspect. Cisneros was pronounced dead shortly after arriving at Bellevue Hospital. City officials confirmed that the suspect had a history of mental health struggles and stated that the incident is not being treated as terrorism-related.

As per standard protocol following an officer-involved shooting, the NYPD’s Force Investigation Division has opened an internal review of the incident, and body-worn camera footage is scheduled for public release.

In the aftermath of the shooting, police cordoned off several blocks surrounding Times Square, causing extensive traffic delays and drawing large crowds of onlookers during the evening rush hour. Eyewitnesses described a chaotic scene as bystanders scattered for cover while sirens echoed through the midtown corridor. Community leaders and city officials have since called for increased mental health resources and heightened security patrols in high-traffic tourist hubs to prevent similar tragedies from occurring.