Watch: Woman with mental health history charges at NYPD officers with kitchen knives
A 49-year-old woman with a history of mental health issues was shot and killed by NYPD officers after stabbing two people in Times Square. Authorities have confirmed the incident was not terrorism-related.
Why it matters
The incident raises ongoing concerns regarding public safety in high-traffic areas and the management of individuals with severe mental health crises.
A woman who stabbed two people in New York City's Times Square before being shot by police charged at officers wielding two kitchen knives and refused repeated demands to surrender, authorities said. The investigators ruled out any immediate indication that the attack was terrorism-related.The 49-year-old Queens woman was confronted by NYPD officers shortly after stabbing a 32-year-old woman and a 68-year-old man on Monday afternoon. The younger woman died from her injuries, while the man remained in stable condition.The dramatic confrontation unfolded near an NYPD substation outside One Times Square, where officers spent several minutes attempting to persuade the woman to put down the weapons, Police Commissioner Jessica Tisch said.The woman instead told officers, “I’m not dropping anything, I would rather kill both of you,” Tisch said.Police then used a Taser, but it failed to incapacitate her.
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