Bank of America VP killed in Times Square stabbing

On August 31, 2026, 32-year-old Bank of America Vice President Erin Piacenti was killed and a 68-year-old man was injured in a random, broad-daylight stabbing in New York City's Times Square. Responding NYPD officers used a stun gun and fatally shot the suspect, 49-year-old Pamela Cisneros, after she refused to drop two large knives and advanced toward them. Cisneros had a documented mental health history but no prior arrest record in the city.

Times Square stabbing incident

• ▪The suspect, identified as 49-year-old Pamela Cisneros of Queens, pulled two knives from a shopping bag, stabbed a 68-year-old man, and then attacked Erin Piacenti
• ▪The stabbing occurred on August 31, 2026, at approximately 4:30 p.m. near West 42nd Street and Seventh Avenue in Manhattan
• ▪New York City Police Department Commissioner Jessica Tisch stated that the stabbing attack appeared to be random and unprovoked
• ▪The 68-year-old male victim of the stabbing was hospitalized in stable condition
• ▪A knife-wielding woman stabbed and killed one person and injured another in New York City's Times Square on August 31, 2026

Attacker mental health history

• ▪The suspect, Pamela Cisneros, had no prior arrest record in New York City
• ▪The deceased victim was identified as 32-year-old Erin Piacenti, a corporate vice president in Bank of America's business selection and conflicts unit

Erin Piacenti background

• ▪Erin Piacenti earned a law degree from Fordham Law School, graduating in 2021 alongside her husband, Frank Piacenti
• ▪Erin Piacenti had joined Bank of America 18 months prior to the incident, according to an internal memo by Matthew Koder, president of global corporate and investment banking
• ▪The deceased victim was identified as 32-year-old Erin Piacenti, a corporate vice president in Bank of America's business selection and conflicts unit

Police shooting of suspect

• ▪According to NYPD Commissioner Jessica Tisch, Pamela Cisneros refused to drop her knives, telling officers she "would rather kill" them during a confrontation lasting several minutes
• ▪Before firing their weapons, police officers used a stun gun on Pamela Cisneros, which failed to stop her from advancing
• ▪Responding New York City police officers shot and killed the suspect, Pamela Cisneros, after she advanced toward them brandishing two large knives

Times Square security context

• ▪The incident occurred near Bank of America's Manhattan office tower located at One Bryant Park
• ▪The stabbing took place in Times Square, a heavily policed pedestrian thoroughfare that sees 200,000 to 250,000 pedestrians transit daily

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