A Bank of America executive was killed and another person injured in a stabbing spree in New York City’s Times Square on Monday afternoon. Police said the attacks occurred within seconds of each other in the heavily trafficked tourist and theater district, near a police precinct and the building that hosts the annual New Year’s Eve ball drop.
The deceased, 32‑year‑old Erin Piacenti, was a vice president for business selection and conflicts at Bank of America. She held a law degree from Fordham Law School, graduating in 2021 alongside her husband, Frank Piacenti. The couple had recently marked their two‑year wedding anniversary. Bank of America described the loss as “shocking and deeply saddened,” while Fordham Law expressed heartbreak over her death.
Police identified the attacker as 49‑year‑old Pamela Cisneros of Queens. Officers shot and killed her after a prolonged attempt to persuade her to drop two knives she had retrieved from a shopping bag. According to Police Commissioner Jessica Tisch, Cisneros had no prior arrest record in New York City but had encountered police in 2018 and 2019 for mental‑health‑related incidents.
Cisneros first stabbed a 68‑year‑old man, who was hospitalized, and then attacked Piacenti, with the two stabbings occurring about 20 seconds apart. Tisch described the assaults as “random and unprovoked.” Video footage showed officers surrounding Cisneros as she brandished the knives, using a stun gun before opening fire when she threatened to kill them rather than surrender.
