Times Square Stabbing: Bank of America VP Killed, Attacker Shot

Times Square Stabbing: Bank of America VP Killed, Attacker Shot

By Paul V. Young – TheNATIONWEEK.com | September 2, 2026

BRISBANE, Australia – A chilling act of random violence in New York’s iconic Times Square has left a Bank of America Vice President dead and another man wounded. The assailant, identified by authorities, was fatally shot by police after the brutal attack.

Erin Piacenti, 32, a rising star at Bank of America and a recent graduate of Fordham Law School, was one of two victims in the unprovoked midday stabbing on Monday. The incident unfolded mere blocks from Bank of America’s corporate offices, casting a pall over the bustling tourist and theater district.

“We are shocked and deeply saddened by the tragic loss of our colleague,” Bank of America stated, acknowledging the profound impact of Piacenti’s death. Fordham Law School echoed this sentiment, expressing heartbreak for their alumna who graduated in 2021 alongside her husband, Frank Piacenti.

The second victim, a 68-year-old man whose identity remains undisclosed, was hospitalized following the assault. His current condition has not been released.

The attacker was identified by police as Pamela Cisneros, 49, of Queens. Commissioner Jessica Tisch revealed that Cisneros had previous mental health interactions with law enforcement in 2018 and 2019, though there were no prior arrests in New York City.

Patrick Peralta, Cisneros’ brother, disclosed to Gothamist that his sister had battled psychiatric issues for decades but was not typically aggressive. He stated that the divorced mother of three had been on medication and showed improvement in recent years, intermittently working in a legal office. Peralta last saw Cisneros at a family gathering early last month, noting she skipped recent family dinners but assured their mother of her well-being in a Saturday phone call.

“We really don’t know how to express or explain why this happened,” Peralta told Gothamist, extending his sympathy to Piacenti’s family and the injured man.

The attack occurred in one of New York City’s most heavily policed and frequented areas, directly adjacent to a police station and the site of the annual New Year’s Eve ball drop. This incident follows another fatal stabbing in the same vicinity just four months prior in May.

Commissioner Tisch detailed the harrowing sequence of events: Cisneros produced two knives from a shopping bag, first attacking the 68-year-old man before turning on Piacenti. Bystander videos captured police confronting Cisneros, who brandished the two large knives. Officers deployed a stun gun, but Cisneros, reportedly declaring she “would rather kill” them, advanced menacingly before two officers discharged their firearms, ending the confrontation.

This tragic event serves as a stark reminder of the unpredictable nature of violence, even in seemingly secure public spaces, and reignites discussions around mental health support and public safety in urban environments.

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