Erin Piacenti, A 32-Year-Old Bank Of America Vice President, Fatally Stabbed In An Unprovoked Times Square Attack

Erin Piacenti, a 32-year-old Bank of America vice president from Chester, New Jersey who worked in the bank's business selection and conflicts unit approximately one block from where she was attacked, was stabbed in the stomach on West 41st Street and Seventh Avenue in Times Square at approximately 4:24 PM Monday and died at Bellevue Hospital from her injuries.

She graduated from the University of Pennsylvania in 2016 and Fordham Law School in 2021. She had been with Bank of America for 18 months.

NYPD Commissioner Jessica Tisch described the incident as a "random and unprovoked double stabbing."

The attacker, identified as Pamela Cisneros, 49, of Queens, pulled two kitchen knives from a red Target bag and stabbed a 68-year-old man in the abdomen within seconds before attacking Piacenti.

Both victims were stabbed within 20 seconds of each other. Tisch said Cisneros had a "documented mental health history" that included prior police encounters.

Officers located Cisneros several blocks from the scene and spent four minutes attempting to get her to drop the knives. She told them: "I'm not dropping anything. I would rather kill both of you."

Officers deployed a Taser that failed to stop her. As she advanced toward them, two officers opened fire. Cisneros was pronounced dead at a hospital.

"We are shocked and deeply saddened by the tragic loss of our colleague," Bank of America said. "She was a valued teammate who will be greatly missed. Our hearts go out to her family and all of her loved ones."

The 68-year-old man is in stable condition.