Woman Shot Dead by Police in Times Square After Stabbing Attack
Pamela Cisneros Lopez, 49, killed after fatally stabbing one and injuring another in unprovoked assault.
Image: Eddie Pollard / AI
Sarah Connor
A 49-year-old New York City woman was shot dead by police in Times Square.
Police Commissioner Jessica Tisch confirmed Lopez's death; the male victim remains in stable condition.
The 32-year-old woman died from her injuries; both Cisneros and the female stabbing victim were pronounced dead at Bellevue Hospital.
The other victim, a 68-year-old man, was also transported to Bellevue Hospital and is in stable condition.
Officers initially deployed a taser on Lopez, but it proved ineffective in subduing her.
Police recovered two knives from the scene following the incident.
The incident, which reportedly began near West 41st Street and Seventh Avenue, was captured on body cameras.
Police are investigating the incident and have found no evidence of a terrorist attack; Commissioner Tisch also claimed there was no evidence of a terrorist motive.
The stabbings were random and unprovoked acts, carried out by a woman with previous mental health problems, Commissioner Tisch stated.
I'm not dropping anything, I would rather kill both of you.
Pamela Cisneros Lopez reportedly has a documented history of mental illness with the NYPD, including incidents in 2018 and 2019.
Aliou Diaye, a street vendor, stated the woman stabbed another person in front of his stand.
Hassan Abdallah, a fruit cart worker, described seeing the second victim being cared for by his wife.
The attack was an unprovoked double stabbing that took place within approximately 20 seconds of each other, Commissioner Tisch claimed.
The woman reportedly rushed an officer, leading to police firing shots.
Commissioner Jessica Tisch claimed Lopez told officers during a brief standoff, "I'm not dropping anything, I would rather kill both of you."
Police have asked onlookers to avoid the area during the ongoing investigation.