A woman carrying several knives fatally stabbed one person and wounded another in what police described as a random attack in New York City's Times Square on Aug. 31 before she was shot and killed by officers, authorities said.
New York City police received multiple 911 calls at about 4:24 p.m. local time reporting a woman armed with two knives stabbing people in Times Square, according to New York City Police Commissioner Jessica Tisch. A preliminary investigation indicates that the attack unfolded near West 41st Street and Seventh Avenue.
The suspect approached a man who had just exited a subway station and was standing with his wife waiting to cross the street, Tisch said. A witness told investigators the woman removed two knives from a red
Target bag before approaching the man.
The suspect then allegedly waved the knives before stabbing the 68-year-old man in the right side of the abdomen, according to the police commissioner. The man was taken to Bellevue Hospital and was listed in stable condition.
Moments later, the woman stabbed a 32-year-old woman in the abdomen, Tisch said. The woman was transported to the hospital, where she was pronounced dead.
Police called the two stabbings, which occurred within about 20 seconds of one another, "random and unprovoked." Authorities have not released the names of the victims pending family notification.
"I'm deeply saddened to report that one of the victims has passed away, as has the alleged perpetrator," Mayor Zohran Mamdani said during an evening news conference.
Officers confronted suspect after attack
After the stabbings, the suspect continued northbound on Seventh Avenue before witnesses flagged down nearby officers, Tisch said. Officers found the woman between West 42nd and West 43rd streets while officials said she was still carrying both knives.
According to Tisch, officers spent about four minutes attempting to de-escalate the situation and repeatedly ordering the woman to drop the knives.
The woman allegedly refused to to drop the knives and told officers, "I'm not dropping anything. I would rather kill both of you," the police commissioner said.
"Multiple officers discharged tasers, which proved to be ineffective, and the subject continued to advance towards our officers with the knives," Tisch added.
The officers then fired at the suspect, striking her, according to Tisch. She was later pronounced dead at the hospital.
The shooting was captured on officers' body-worn cameras, and city officials said the footage will be released publicly following standard procedures. An internal investigation has also been opened, according to officials.
This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: 1 dead, 1 injured in Times Square stabbing; suspect fatally shot by police
