WARNING: GRAPHIC VIDEO We just posted a video talking about the “21-foot rule,” and we’re always talking about the problem with relying too much on tools like a Taser. They’re useful, but they’re not a guarantee. The part that stands out here is how many officers seem to just be waiting to see what happens. That doesn’t mean you need 12 cops all pointing guns at the same person either, especially in the middle of Times Square with people everywhere. Obviously there are crossfire and backdrop concerns. But at the same time, someone with a knife can close distance really fast. If the Taser doesn’t work, things can change in a second. This easily could have ended a lot worse. Backstory: On August 31, 2026, NYPD officers responded to Times Square after a woman armed with two knives allegedly stabbed a man and a woman near West 42nd Street and Seventh Avenue. The woman then moved north toward the NYPD Times Square substation, where officers confronted her and repeatedly ordered her to drop the weapons. Reports indicate officers attempted to use Tasers before the woman continued toward officers armed with a knife, prompting police to open fire. The woman was fatally shot. One of the people she allegedly stabbed also died, while the second victim was critically injured. Authorities said there was no indication the attack was terrorism-related, and the motive remains under investigation. Credit: jungle_house_slushies