Times Square stabbing incident results in one death and assailant shot by police

A woman armed with two kitchen knives fatally stabbed one person and wounded another in New York City's Times Square on Monday before police shot and killed her. Authorities stated that the attack was random and unprovoked. The incident occurred just before 4:30 pm near a police substation outside One Times Square, the building known for hosting the city's annual New Year's Eve ball drop. New York City Police Commissioner Jessica Tisch reported that the 49-year-old suspect from Queens pulled the knives from a shopping bag and stabbed a 68-year-old man in the abdomen as he exited a subway station with his wife. She then attacked a 32-year-old woman, stabbing her in the abdomen. Both victims were hospitalized, with the younger woman later dying from her injuries. The older man is currently in stable condition, according to police. Officers surrounded the suspect and attempted to get her to drop the knives before deploying a Taser, which was ineffective. The suspect reportedly told officers, "I'm not dropping anything, I would rather kill both of you," before advancing toward them with the knives raised. Multiple officers then opened fire, and bystander video captured her falling to the ground, where officers handcuffed her and administered first aid. She was later pronounced dead. Tisch described the situation as "an extraordinarily dangerous situation unfolding in the heart of Times Square, the crossroads of the world." She added that the attack was random and unprovoked. Tisch noted that the suspect had a documented history of mental health contacts with police, including incidents in 2018 and 2019, but no prior arrests. Investigators do not believe the attack was related to terrorism, and police have not released the victims' identities pending notification of family. Mayor Zohran Mamdani stated at a news conference, "We know that those families' lives have been shattered by what took place today, and we will continue to hold them close as the hours and days and weeks continue from this moment." Both Mamdani and Tisch credited the responding officers, saying their actions likely prevented further casualties. This incident marks the second fatal stabbing in Times Square this year, following a similar attack in May, despite New York City's overall homicide rate dropping sharply to one of its lowest totals in decades.