Why Tasers sometimes fail to stop suspects — and what weight has to do with it
Times Square Standoff Ends With Officer Fire After Taser Failure
A four‑minute standoff in New York City’s Times Square turned deadly when a 49‑year‑old woman, Pamela Cisneros, was shot by police after repeated attempts to subdue her with Tasers failed. Cisneros, who had already stabbed two people—killing a 32‑year‑old woman and injuring a 68‑year‑old man—was taken to Bellevue Hospital, where she later died.
The incident occurred on Monday evening in the bustling heart of Manhattan. Officers first deployed a standard Taser, the device that delivers high‑voltage electric pulses through two barbed probes. The police commissioner, Jessica Tisch, reported that the Tasers did not stop Cisneros, who continued to advance toward officers with knives in hand. “As multiple officers discharged Tasers, which proved to be ineffective, the subject continued to advance toward our officers with the knives,” Tisch told reporters after the event.
Cisneros reportedly told the officers, “I’m not dropping anything. I would rather kill both of you.” When the Tasers failed to incapacitate her, two officers opened fire. The shots struck Cisneros and she was rushed to Bellevue. A medical examiner pronounced her dead.
The shooting raised questions about why the Taser did not work. Experts and investigators noted several factors that can undermine the effectiveness of the device. A retired police sergeant from Ohio, Steve Keller, said the most common reasons for failure include clothing, probe placement, substance use by the suspect, and the connectivity between the two probes. “If one probe hits a person and the other misses, the Taser will not work,” Keller explained. “The purpose of the Taser is neuromuscular in capacity,” he added, noting that officers are trained to aim at large muscle groups such as the back and thighs.
Keller also pointed out that body composition can affect performance. “If one probe hits the abdomen and the person is obese, it can affect the connectivity of the two probes,” he said. “In an obese person, it is more difficult to find an area that conducts electricity.” He cited situations where one probe might strike a thigh while the other contacts a thick jacket, compromising the electrical circuit necessary for the Taser’s shock to travel through the body.
Dr. Marc Siegel, a senior medical analyst, agreed that fat conducts electricity poorly compared with muscle. “Tasers are much more effective for muscle than fat because muscle conducts electricity much better, and the Taser delivers a high voltage,” Siegel said. “In an obese person, it is more difficult to find an area that conducts electricity.”
The incident also brought to light the suspect’s mental health history. Commissioner Tisch confirmed that Cisneros had a documented history with the NYPD, including incidents in 2018 and 2019. Mental health professionals have noted that a person’s psychological state can also influence how they react to a Taser’s incapacitating shock.
The Times Square attack, which left a woman dead and a man wounded, prompted a broader discussion within law enforcement about the reliability of Tasers in high‑risk scenarios. While the device is designed to temporarily disrupt muscle activity by delivering controlled electric pulses through the probes, its effectiveness can be reduced by factors such as clothing thickness, probe placement, and the target’s body composition.
The New York Police Department has yet to release an official statement on whether the failure of the Tasers in this case was due to these known variables or whether procedural adjustments are needed. Axon, the manufacturer of the Taser, confirmed that the standard model fires two probes connected by insulated conductive wires that carry electrical pulses to trigger involuntary muscle contractions. The manufacturer’s guidelines recommend that the probes be placed at least 12 inches (30 cm) apart for optimal performance.
The shooting has already sparked debate among police officials, medical experts, and advocacy groups about how best to prepare officers for situations where Tasers may not work. Some suggest that additional training in alternative subduing techniques could be vital. Others argue for a review of the technology itself, especially in contexts involving individuals with higher body fat percentages or wearing bulky clothing.
In the meantime, the city mourns the loss of a young woman and the injuries of the older man, while the police department investigates the incident and considers how to improve response protocols in the future.