Two dead in stabbing in New York's Times Square; suspect shot dead

On Monday, a knife-wielding woman stabbed and killed two individuals in New York's bustling Times Square before being fatally shot by police, according to Mayor Zohran Mamdani. The 49-year-old Queens resident, Pamela Cisneros, who had a history of mental health issues, approached the victims in broad daylight and threatened them with two large knives she had retrieved from a bag bearing a well-known supermarket chain logo.

The first victim, a 68-year-old man, was stabbed in the abdomen, followed 20 seconds later by the 32-year-old woman, who also succumbed to her injuries. Both victims' identities remain undisclosed pending notification of their families. Police quickly intervened, attempting to persuade Cisneros to drop her weapons for four minutes.

During the encounter, she defiantly stated, "I'm not dropping anything. I would rather kill both of you." One witness reported that the suspect was tased by police before she rushed at officers, at which point they fired their handguns twice. Police confirmed that they had unsuccessfully used a stun gun before resorting to gunfire.

Local news reported that the suspect was pronounced dead at the hospital. The police chief described the attack as extraordinarily dangerous, given the large number of people present in Times Square, the crossroads of the world. The attack is not believed to be terror-related.