A photograph of Erin Piacenti smiling with her newborn daughter has been shared by loved ones after the Bank of America vice-president was fatally stabbed in Times Square on her first day back at work following maternity leave.
Ms Piacenti, 32, from Chester, New Jersey, was attacked in the abdomen on Monday afternoon in what police described as a random and unprovoked stabbing. She later died in hospital.
A fundraising page shows her holding baby Madison beside her husband, Frank. It said the couple had recently celebrated their second wedding anniversary and returned from a family road trip before Ms Piacenti’s death.
“Erin’s life was defined not by the circumstances of her death, but instead by the way she lived,” the appeal said.
It described her as “deeply devoted to her family and friends, exceptionally bright and accomplished” and said she brought “warmth and energy” to those around her. More than $95,000 had been raised by Wednesday.
The appeal said the money would be used to support Madison as she grew up surrounded by relatives, friends and memories of her mother.
Police said Pamela Cisneros, 49, first stabbed a 68-year-old man after taking two large knives from a red shopping bag near West 41st Street and Seventh Avenue. About 20 seconds later, she attacked Ms Piacenti further up Seventh Avenue, according to investigators.
The male victim was taken to hospital and was reported to be in a stable condition. The NYPD said the two knives were recovered at the scene.
Officers confronted Cisneros several minutes later and ordered her to drop the weapons. Police Commissioner Jessica Tisch said she refused, telling officers: “I’m not dropping anything. I would rather kill both of you.”
Officers used Tasers when she advanced towards them, before two of them opened fire. Cisneros was taken to hospital but later died.
Police said Cisneros had previous mental-health-related encounters with officers in 2018 and 2019, but no known New York City arrest record. The incident remains under investigation and was captured on body-camera footage.
Bank of America said it was “shocked and deeply saddened by the tragic loss” of Ms Piacenti, describing her as a valued colleague whose death had left the company’s “hearts” with her family and loved ones. She had graduated from Fordham Law School in 2021 alongside her husband. ([apnews.com](https://apnews.com/article/ba082a9bcdf28aef91b3cc4762c2688a))
