A woman armed with a knife was shot by police in Times Square on Monday after she stabbed two people near one of the NYPD’s own substations, law enforcement sources said.
The attack unfolded at West 42nd Street and Seventh Avenue, the so-called Crossroads of the World, shortly before 4:30 p.m., according to the sources. The suspect, whose identity has not been released, knifed a man and a woman in the bustling tourist corridor.
Officers located the woman behind the NYPD substation in the area, the sources said. She was pointing the knife at them when police opened fire, striking her.
Both victims were hospitalized in critical condition following the attack, according to law enforcement sources. The suspect was also hospitalized in critical condition after being shot.
Photos from the scene showed a police officer holding a large knife in front of a souvenir shop near where the stabbings occurred. The weapon appeared substantial in size based on images captured at the scene.
The incident caused a major police response in one of New York City’s most heavily trafficked areas, where the NYPD maintains a visible presence including the substation where officers ultimately confronted the suspect.
The attack came amid ongoing concerns about public safety in New York’s transit hubs and tourist districts, though police have not suggested any connection to other recent violent incidents in the city.
The stabbing and subsequent police shooting remained under investigation Monday evening, with authorities not yet releasing additional details about what may have precipitated the attack or the suspect’s background.