Woman on stabbing spree in Times Square fatally shot by NYPD after killing one

A woman was taken down by police in Times Square on Monday afternoon after she stabbed two people in the busy tourist attraction, one fatally. 

Law enforcement sources told the New York Post the incident began with the woman stabbing a man and a woman near West 42nd Street and Seventh Avenue shortly before 4:30 pm. She was found by officers near an NYPD substation, waving a knife at officers. Police opened fire, striking and killing the woman.

Sources said that police had deployed tasers, hitting the woman, however, she pulled them out and continued confronting officers before they opened fire. The woman’s weapon was recovered by police. 

Sources told the outlet that the woman and one of the victims died at the hospital, while the second victim was in critical condition. The incident is not believed to be terrorism-related. 

One witness, construction worker Jorge Disla, told New York Daily News, “The police tried to speak with her. They were shouting, ‘Drop the knives!’”

Linda Ruiz witnessed the aftermath, telling the outlet, “I was crossing at 42nd St. I saw a guy bleeding profusely from his right leg. He was gushing blood, saying, ‘I need help. Help me.’” She added, “I went to get a cop on the corner and there was another lady on the floor. She was stabbed in the back or in the chest. I couldn’t tell. There was a lot of blood. She wasn’t conscious. The police were trying to resuscitate her. But she wasn’t moving. It was horrible.”