Woman stabs 2 people in Times Square, killing 1, then is killed by police

On August 31, 2026, at 6:20 p.m., a 49‑year‑old woman from Queens stabbed two individuals in Times Square, killing one before being fatally shot by police, according to officials. The woman withdrew two knives from a shopping bag and attacked a 68‑year‑old man who had just exited the subway and was waiting to cross the street with his wife, striking him in the abdomen. Seconds later she stabbed a 32‑year‑old woman also in the abdomen. Both victims were taken to a hospital; the woman died and the man remained in stable condition, police said. Authorities did not disclose whether the victims were tourists or residents. Video footage shared on social media showed at least 10 officers surrounding the woman, who was holding two large kitchen knives. Officers attempted to persuade her to drop the knives for several minutes before deploying a Taser. Police Commissioner Jessica Tisch quoted the woman as saying, “I’m not dropping anything, I would rather kill some of you.” The Taser failed to incapacitate her, and she walked rapidly toward the officers while waving the knives. Two officers then fired their weapons. In the video, the woman fell to the ground, an officer handcuffed her, and officers rolled her onto her back to render first aid. Tisch described the scene as “an extraordinarily unsafe situation unfolding in the heart of Times Square, the crossroads of the world.” She noted that the woman had a documented mental‑health history with the NYPD in 2018 and 2019 but no recent arrests with the department. Tisch added that investigators found no indication the attack was terror‑related. The names of the victims have not been released pending notification of next of kin, police said. Mayor Zohran Mamdani stated, “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 proceed from this moment.” The NYPD closed a portion of Seventh Avenue and advised the public to avoid the area while officers cordoned off the scene and a large contingent of law‑enforcement personnel worked nearby. Violent crime in New York City has declined sharply this year, with homicides down 24% and on pace to reach their lowest level in decades. Nevertheless, this marks the second killing in Times Square in 2026; a man was fatally stabbed in the same location in May.