A woman armed with knives fatally stabbed a passerby and wounded another in Times Square before police shot and killed her in broad daylight, authorities said.
Story Highlights
- Police say the attack was random and unprovoked near Seventh Avenue and West 43rd Street.
- Officers used a stun device, then fired when the suspect stayed armed and ignored commands.
- One woman died from stab wounds; a man was critically injured, officials said.
- The New York Police Department will review body-camera video and the shooting, as is standard.
What Police Say Happened in Times Square
New York Police Department officials said the violence began Monday afternoon near Seventh Avenue and West 43rd Street, a crowded part of Times Square. According to early reports, a woman stabbed two people with knives during a “random and unprovoked” attack. A female victim later died. A male victim was listed in critical condition. Officers confronted the suspect steps from a police substation. Commands to drop the knives were ignored, officials said.
Officers first tried a stun device to stop the threat, according to local reporting. When the suspect stayed armed and kept swinging the knives, police fired and fatally shot her. Authorities described the woman as apparently emotionally disturbed. Officials said the department will conduct an internal review, and body-camera footage will be released under policy. The account aligns across multiple outlets that cited police sources and on-scene witnesses.
Victims, Location, and Timing
The attack unfolded in daylight in one of the city’s busiest tourist zones, where families, workers, and visitors crowd sidewalks and transit stops. The initial stabbing happened near the intersection just before the afternoon rush. The female victim died after being stabbed. The male victim remained in critical condition as of the initial reports. Police immediately secured the scene and warned bystanders away while medics treated the wounded and officers tracked the suspect’s path.
Investigators marked evidence along Seventh Avenue and West 43rd Street and gathered video from storefronts and phones. Detectives interviewed witnesses who saw the stabbings and the police confrontation that followed. Officials did not immediately release the suspect’s identity or a detailed history. As in all police shootings, the department said a review would document steps taken, from initial contact to the moment officers fired and the medical aid given after the shooting.
Why This Incident Resonates Citywide
This case strikes nerves that cut across politics: public safety in crowded places, mental health on city streets, and when officers should use force. New Yorkers have seen other high-profile attacks near Times Square in recent years, including stabbings and a New Year’s Eve knife assault on police, which kept fears high in a district that draws millions. Monday’s chaos fits that pattern of sudden violence in high-traffic zones that turns policy debates into urgent sidewalk realities.
City leaders face pressure from both sides. Many want faster action against street violence and better treatment options for people in crisis. Others ask how to limit deadly force while still stopping an active attack fast. The New York Police Department’s own protocols require after-action reviews. Those reviews help the public see what happened and whether training matched the stakes. Clear steps and swift transparency can calm a shaken city after scenes like this one.
Sources:
facebook.com, abc7ny.com, nytimes.com, nypost.com, abcnews.com, fox5ny.com