A 32-year-old Bank of America executive, Erin Piacenti, was fatally stabbed in Times Square on Monday afternoon during what authorities described as a random and unprovoked attack. The incident, which also left a 68-year-old man injured, culminated in officers fatally shooting the alleged attacker, Pamela Cisneros, 49, of Queens, after she reportedly refused to drop her weapons and threatened police.
"I’m not dropping anything, I would rather kill both of you." Pamela Cisneros, Attacker (as reported by NYPD Commissioner Jessica Tisch)
The series of events unfolded shortly after 4:20 p.m. near the intersection of Seventh Avenue and West 42nd Street, a section of Manhattan known for its high volume of pedestrians, commuters, and tourists. According to NYPD Commissioner Jessica Tisch, Cisneros, armed with two large knives, attacked two individuals within seconds of each other.
The first victim, a 68-year-old man, was reportedly waiting to cross the street with his wife after exiting the subway when Cisneros allegedly pulled two knives from a shopping bag. Commissioner Tisch stated that Cisneros stabbed the man in the abdomen without provocation. He was subsequently hospitalized and remained in stable condition as of Tuesday.
Moments later, Cisneros allegedly approached Ms. Piacenti, a Vice President of Business Selection and Conflicts at Bank of America, and stabbed her in the abdomen. Ms. Piacenti, a resident of Chester, New Jersey, was rushed to Bellevue Hospital. Despite medical efforts, she succumbed to her injuries and was pronounced dead. Bank of America confirmed her death in a statement, expressing profound sorrow: “We are shocked and deeply saddened by the tragic loss of our colleague. She was a valued teammate who will be greatly missed. Our hearts go out to her family and all of her loved ones.” Ms. Piacenti had recently celebrated her second wedding anniversary and was a graduate of the University of Pennsylvania and Fordham Law School.
Following the stabbings, witnesses quickly alerted nearby police officers. Responding officers confronted Cisneros, who was still armed with the knives. Commissioner Tisch reported that officers spent approximately four minutes attempting to de-escalate the situation, repeatedly ordering Cisneros to drop her weapons. Cisneros allegedly refused these commands and, according to Tisch, threatened the officers, stating, "I’m not dropping anything, I would rather kill both of you," and "I will kill you."
In an attempt to subdue her without lethal force, officers deployed Tasers twice. However, police reported that these less-lethal weapons were ineffective. As Cisneros continued to advance toward the officers while still holding the knives, two officers discharged their firearms. Cisneros was struck by the gunfire. Officers then handcuffed her and immediately began providing first aid. She was transported to Bellevue Hospital, where she was pronounced dead. Police recovered both knives from the scene of the incident.
Commissioner Tisch characterized the situation as "extraordinarily dangerous" given the immense number of people typically present in Times Square. "At any given moment, there are thousands of New Yorkers, commuters, tourists, families, workers moving through these streets," Tisch emphasized.
Investigators believe both victims were selected at random, and there is no evidence to suggest the attack was connected to terrorism. While police initially received reports of a robbery at knifepoint, investigators have not yet identified a clear motive for the attacks. Commissioner Tisch noted that Cisneros had a documented mental health history, including previous interactions with the NYPD in 2018 and 2019, though these prior incidents did not result in arrests.
New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani joined Commissioner Tisch in commending the officers for their response, suggesting their actions may have prevented further attacks in the densely populated area. The NYPD Force Investigation Division is conducting a review of the officers' fatal shooting of Cisneros, and Mayor Mamdani stated that body-camera footage of the confrontation will eventually be released to the public.
Witnesses described a chaotic and bloody scene as pedestrians scattered and bystanders attempted to aid the wounded. One witness recounted seeing the male victim bleeding heavily before discovering Ms. Piacenti unconscious nearby. Another witness described the 68-year-old victim’s wife desperately trying to staunch his bleeding while others sought materials for assistance. The random and violent nature of the attack in such a prominent location has drawn significant public attention.
