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· collected 2026-09-07 · by Melissa Rudy
The article reports on a four-minute standoff in Times Square where a woman was stabbed and killed by Pamela Cisneros, who allegedly attacked two people with knives despite multiple officers discharging Tasers that failed to subdue her. According to a retired police sergeant, Steve Keller, obesity can affect the Taser's effectiveness because a large layer of body fat can interfere with the connectivity between probes. The standard Taser is designed to fire two probes connected by wires, which travel through the body and trigger involuntary muscle contractions. Keller notes that mental health may also play a significant role in how a person responds to a Taser, citing Cisneros' documented history of mental health incidents with the NYPD.
Written by the local model on 2026-09-07,
using this article's own text rather than the other coverage of the
same event (that is the story summary below).
Story summary
Pamela Cisneros, a 49-year-old woman, allegedly stabbed two people in Times Square last Monday, killing one and injuring another. A four-minute standoff ensued as police tried to subdue her with Tasers, but the devices were ineffective. Despite multiple Taser deployments, Cisneros continued to advance on officers with knives, prompting two officers to open fire and strike her. She was taken to Bellevue Hospital, where she was pronounced dead. The incident has raised questions about why Tasers sometimes fail to subdue suspects, particularly whether obesity or body composition can impede their effectiveness. A standard Taser is designed to fire two probes that deliver electrical pulses into the body, but it's unclear why Cisneros' body responded differently. The manufacturer, Axon, notes that for the device to be effective, two probes must make contact with the body within a certain distance of each other, which may not always occur due to factors such as weight or body composition.
Written for “Taser Effectiveness Study” on 2026-09-07,
grounded in this article and the 0 other(s) covering the same event.
Multiple Taser deployments failed to stop Pamela Cisneros, 49, during a roughly four-minute standoff in Times Square last Monday, after she allegedly stabbed two people.
uncertain
she → fail → people
The attack left a 32-year-old woman dead and a 68-year-old man wounded.
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attack → leave → woman
"As multiple officers discharged Tasers, which proved to be ineffective, the subject continued to advance toward our officers with the knives," Jessica Tisch, New York City police commissioner, said in a news conference that evening.
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Tisch → discharge → conference
When the Tasers failed to subdue Cisneros — who stated, "I’m not dropping anything.
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I → fail → anything
I would rather kill both of you" — two officers opened fire, striking her.
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officers → kill → her
Cisneros was taken to Bellevue Hospital, where she was pronounced dead.
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she → take → Hospital
The incident sparked broader questions about why Tasers sometimes fail and whether obesity or body composition can impede their effectiveness.
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obesity → spark → effectiveness
A standard Taser is designed to fire two small, barbed probes connected to the device by insulated, conductive wires, according to Axon, the manufacturer.
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Taser → design → Axon
"Electrical pulses travel along those wires and into the body, triggering involuntary muscle contractions," Axon’s website states.
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website → travel → contractions
"For NMI to occur, it is best that two probes make contact 12 inches (30 cm) or more apart."
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probes → occur → contact
Officers are trained to aim for those areas."
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Officers → train → areas
Steve Keller, a retired police sergeant in Blue Ash, Ohio, said the most common causes of Taser failure include clothing, probe placement, substance abuse by the perpetrator and connectivity between probes.
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causes → say → probes
However, obesity can affect the Taser, he said, as a large layer of body fat could interfere with the connectivity.
"
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layer → affect → connectivity
The purpose of the Taser is neuromuscular in capacity," Keller told Fox News Digital.
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Keller → tell → Digital
Officers are trained to aim for those areas," he said, just as they are also trained to adjust their aiming for clothing and the distance between them and the subject.
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they → train → them
If one of the probes hits the abdomen and the person is obese, it can affect the connectivity of the two probes, according to Keller.
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it → hit → Keller
"If one probe hits the person and the other probe misses, the Taser will not work," he said.
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he → hit → person
For example, if one probe hits a subject in the thigh and the other probe hits a thick bubble jacket, there’s a good chance the officer won’t have good connectivity, Keller said.
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Keller → hit → connectivity
"The same could be considered if there is a large layer of body fat — they could still feel it, but it might not be as effective."
Referring to Cisneros’ case, Keller emphasized that mental health may also play a significant role in how a person responds to a Taser.
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person → consider → Taser
Tisch confirmed at the press conference that the suspect had a documented mental health history with the NYPD, with one incident in 2018 and another in 2019.
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suspect → confirm → 2019
Dr. Marc Siegel, Fox News senior medical analyst, agreed that body composition can affect the Taser’s effectiveness.
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composition → agree → effectiveness
"Tasers are much more effective for muscle than fat because muscle conducts electricity much better, and the Taser delivers a high voltage," he said.
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he → conduct → voltage
"In an obese person, it is more difficult to find an area that conducts electricity."
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that → find → electricity
Fox News Digital reached out to Axon, the NYPD and obesity organizations requesting comment.
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Digital → reach → comment
