32-Year-Old Bank of America vice president killed in Times Square Stabbing
A 32-year-old Bank of America vice president has been killed after being stabbed in what police described as a random and unprovoked attack in New York City’s Times Square.
The victim, identified as Erin Piacenti of Chester, New Jersey, was attacked on Monday afternoon, August 31, near West 42nd Street and Seventh Avenue, close to Bank of America’s New York office.
Police said the incident began at about 4:24 p.m. when a woman carrying two knives in a shopping bag allegedly approached a 68-year-old man and stabbed him. She then attacked Piacenti, who was also stabbed in the abdomen.
Both victims were taken to Bellevue Hospital. Piacenti later died from her injuries, while the 68-year-old man remained hospitalised in stable condition. Police said there was no apparent connection between the attacker and either victim.
Authorities identified the suspect as 49-year-old Pamela Cisneros of Queens. Police said Cisneros fled the area after the attacks and was later confronted by officers several blocks away.
According to NYPD Commissioner Jessica Tisch, officers spent about four minutes ordering Cisneros to drop the knives. Police said she refused and threatened the officers before waving the weapons and advancing towards them.
Officers deployed Tasers, but they were unsuccessful in stopping her. Two officers then fired their service weapons, striking Cisneros. She was taken to hospital and later pronounced dead.
Police said Cisneros had previous mental-health-related encounters with the NYPD in 2018 and 2019 but had no arrest history with the department. Authorities have also said there is no indication that the attack was terrorism-related.
Piacenti was a lawyer who worked as a vice president in Bank of America’s business selection and conflicts division. She had earned her law degree from Fordham Law School in 2021.
Her death has drawn a strong reaction from Bank of America, which expressed shock and sadness over the loss of its employee and described her as a valued colleague.
Fordham Law School also expressed grief over Piacenti’s death.
According to reports, Piacenti had recently celebrated her second wedding anniversary with her husband, Frank Piacenti, who is also a lawyer. The couple had also recently purchased their first home in Chester, New Jersey.
The attack occurred in one of New York City’s busiest tourist areas, just steps away from a police substation and near Bank of America’s office tower.
New York Mayor Zohran Mamdani thanked the officers who responded to the incident, while the NYPD’s Force Investigation Division is reviewing the police shooting. Body-camera footage from the confrontation is expected to be released at a later date.
The incident has renewed concerns about public safety in Times Square, although authorities have described the stabbing as an isolated, random attack rather than a coordinated or terror-related incident.
