A Bank of America vice-president has died after being stabbed in New York’s Times Square in what police described as a random and unprovoked attack. A second victim was injured before officers shot dead the knife-wielding suspect.
Erin Piacenti, 32, was taken to hospital after being stabbed in the abdomen near West 42nd Street and Seventh Avenue on Monday afternoon. She later died from her injuries, according to the New York Police Department.
Piacenti, who lived in Chester, New Jersey, worked as Bank of America’s vice-president of business selection and conflicts. The bank said it was “shocked and deeply saddened” by her death and described her as a valued colleague. ([apnews.com](https://apnews.com/article/ba082a9bcdf28aef91b3cc4762c2688a?utm_source=openai))
Police Commissioner Jessica Tisch said the suspect, Pamela Cisneros, 49, of Queens, first approached a 68-year-old man near West 41st Street while he was waiting to cross the road with his wife. She allegedly took two knives from a red shopping bag and stabbed him in the abdomen.
The man was taken to hospital in a stable condition. Cisneros then walked north along Seventh Avenue and attacked Piacenti roughly 20 seconds later, police said.
Officers confronted Cisneros between West 42nd and West 43rd streets after witnesses raised the alarm. They spent about four minutes ordering her to drop the knives, but Tisch said she refused.
“I’m not dropping anything. I would rather kill both of you,” Cisneros told officers, according to the commissioner.
Police used Tasers as Cisneros advanced towards them, but they were ineffective. Two officers then opened fire, striking her. She was taken to Bellevue Hospital, where she died.
Five people, including two police officers, were taken to hospital following the incident, according to local reports. The officers were treated for evaluation, while the surviving stabbing victim remained in stable condition. ([ny1.com](https://ny1.com/nyc/manhattan/news/2026/08/31/nypd–police-shoot-stabbing-suspect-in-times-square?utm_source=openai))
Cisneros had no recorded arrest history with the NYPD, although department records showed previous encounters involving mental-health concerns in 2018 and 2019. Investigators have found no indication that the attack was terrorism-related.
The NYPD’s Force Investigation Division is examining the police shooting. Officials have said body-camera footage will be released as the investigation progresses. ([ny1.com](https://ny1.com/nyc/manhattan/news/2026/08/31/nypd–police-shoot-stabbing-suspect-in-times-square?utm_source=openai))
