Woman fatally stabs one, wounds another in Times Square before police shoot her dead

A woman with two kitchen knives fatally stabbed one person and wounded another in New York City's popular Times Square on Monday before police shot and killed her, officials said.

The knife attack 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.

What do we know about the Times Square knife attack?

New York City Police Commissioner Jessica Tisch said the 49-year-old suspect from the borough of 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 young woman dying of her wounds. The older man is currently in stable condition, police said.

Officers surrounded the suspect and attempted to get her to drop the knives before deploying a Taser, which also failed to stop her, according to Tisch.

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, with bystander video showing her falling to the ground, where officers handcuffed her and administered first aid. She was later pronounced dead.

What did the authorities say?

"This was an extraordinarily dangerous situation unfolding in the heart of Times Square, the crossroads of the world," Tisch said.

She added the attack was random and unprovoked.

Tisch said 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 terrorism-related, and police have not released the victims' identities pending notification of family.

Mayor Zohran Mamdani, told 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.

The incident marks the second fatal stabbing in Times Square this year, following a similar attack in May, even as the New York City's overall homicide rate has dropped sharply to one of its lowest totals in decades.