NEW YORK, NY. (THECOUNT) — Erin Piacenti, a 32-year-old Bank of America vice president from New Jersey, has been identified as the woman fatally stabbed Monday during what New York City police described as a random and unprovoked attack in Times Square. Pamela Cisneros, 49, of Queens, allegedly stabbed Piacenti and a 68-year-old man with two knives before she was fatally shot by responding NYPD officers, authorities said.
Piacenti was stabbed in the abdomen and transported to Bellevue Hospital, where she died from her injuries, according to police.
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Piacenti was a vice president at Bank of America and worked in the company’s global corporate and investment banking division. She was based in Manhattan, according to reports identifying her following the attack.
The violence began around 4:20 p.m. near West 41st Street and Seventh Avenue when Cisneros allegedly approached a 68-year-old man who had just exited the subway and was standing with his wife waiting to cross the street.
New York City Police Commissioner Jessica Tisch said Cisneros produced two knives from a red Target shopping bag, waved them and stabbed the man in the abdomen.
Approximately 20 seconds later and about one block away, police said Cisneros approached Piacenti and stabbed her in the abdomen.
JUST IN: 🇺🇸 Bank of America Vice President Erin Piacenti killed in Times Square stabbing. pic.twitter.com/v635E74kSf
— Watcher.Guru (@WatcherGuru) September 1, 2026
Responding officers located Cisneros with assistance from witnesses and attempted to take her into custody. Tisch said officers spoke with Cisneros for approximately four minutes and repeatedly ordered her to drop the knives.
According to Tisch, Cisneros refused the commands and threatened the officers, telling them, “I’m not dropping anything. I would rather kill both of you.” Tisch said Cisneros also repeated, “I will kill you.”
Officers deployed Tasers twice in an attempt to stop Cisneros, but the devices did not appear to subdue her, police said. Cisneros then advanced toward the officers while armed with the knives, prompting two officers to open fire.
Cisneros was struck by police gunfire and transported to Bellevue Hospital, where she was pronounced dead.
Both knives allegedly used in the attacks were recovered at the scene.
The 68-year-old stabbing victim was also transported to Bellevue Hospital and was reported in stable condition. His identity has not been released.
Tisch said investigators believe the attacks were random and unprovoked. Authorities have also said there is no indication the violence was terrorism-related.
Cisneros had previous interactions with the NYPD involving mental-health concerns, including documented incidents in 2018 and 2019, but had no prior arrest history, according to police.
The Times Square area was closed to pedestrians and traffic during the initial investigation as detectives processed the stabbing and officer-involved shooting scenes. The NYPD warned of delays in the surrounding area.
The officer-involved shooting is being investigated separately as authorities review the circumstances that led officers to use deadly force. Body-camera footage is expected to be part of that investigation.
Piacenti’s death marks the fatal outcome of an attack that unfolded within seconds in one of New York City’s most heavily traveled pedestrian areas during the Monday afternoon rush.
Times Square is located in Midtown Manhattan at the junction of Broadway and Seventh Avenue and is one of New York City’s busiest commercial and tourist districts, drawing commuters, residents and visitors from around the world each day.
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