NEW YORK | Bank of America vice president Erin Piacenti, 32, was fatally stabbed in New York City’s Times Square on Monday afternoon in what police described as a random and unprovoked attack. The woman accused of attacking her and another person was later shot and killed by police after advancing toward officers while armed with two knives.
The attack occurred at about 4:24 p.m. near West 42nd Street and Seventh Avenue, one of Manhattan’s busiest intersections. According to NYPD Commissioner Jessica Tisch, the suspect, identified as 49-year-old Pamela Cisneros of Queens, first approached a 68-year-old man who had just exited the subway and was waiting to cross the street with his wife. She allegedly pulled two large knives from a shopping bag and stabbed him in the abdomen.
About 20 seconds later, Cisneros allegedly moved up Seventh Avenue and attacked Piacenti, stabbing her in the abdomen. Both victims were taken to Bellevue Hospital, where Piacenti later died. The 68-year-old man was reported to be in stable condition.
Police confronted Cisneros near the Times Square police substation and repeatedly ordered her to drop the knives. Authorities said officers attempted to use Tasers, but the devices did not stop her. When she continued advancing toward officers while armed, two officers opened fire. Cisneros was taken to Bellevue Hospital, where she was pronounced dead.
Tisch said Cisneros had a documented history of mental health-related encounters with police in 2018 and 2019, but no arrest record. Authorities said there was no indication that the attack was terrorism-related, and the motive remains under investigation. The NYPD Force Investigation Division is examining the police shooting, with officials saying body-camera footage will be released.
Bank of America confirmed Piacenti’s death and expressed shock and sorrow over the loss of its colleague. Piacenti was a vice president in the bank’s Business Selection and Conflicts unit. She was a graduate of the University of Pennsylvania and Fordham Law School, where she earned her law degree in 2021.
The incident comes months after another fatal stabbing in the Times Square area. In May, 39-year-old Leonides Baez of Worcester, Massachusetts, was stabbed to death near West 43rd Street. A 17-year-old suspect was later arrested and charged with murder.
Times Square, often called the “Crossroads of the World,” is among New York’s most heavily visited public spaces. The area has hosted the city’s famous New Year’s Eve celebration since 1904, when more than 200,000 people reportedly gathered for the inaugural event. Its central location, subway connections, theaters, offices and constant flow of visitors make it one of Manhattan’s most prominent public gathering places.
The investigation into Monday’s attack remains ongoing.
Si Venus L Peñaflor ay naging editor-in-chief ng Newsworld, isang lokal na pahayagan ng Laguna. Publisher din siya ng Daystar Gazette at Tutubi News Magazine. Siya ay isa ring pintor at doll face designer ng Ninay Dolls, ang unang Manikang Pilipino. Kasali siya sa DesignCrowd sa rank na #305 sa 640,000 graphic designers sa buong daigdig. Kasama din siya sa unang Local TV Broadcast sa Laguna na Beyond Manila. Aktibong kasapi siya ng San Pablo Jaycees Senate bilang isang JCI Senator.
- Venus L Peñaflor
- Venus L Peñaflor
- Venus L Peñaflor
- Venus L Peñaflor
