New York: Bank of America Vice President Killed in Times Square Stabbing

NEW YORK, Sept 2: A 32-year-old vice president at Bank of America, Erin Piacenti, was killed in a stabbing attack in New York City’s iconic Times Square, police said.

According to police, the incident occurred on Monday afternoon, Aug. 31, near West 42nd Street and Seventh Avenue in Times Square, where a 49-year-old woman, identified as Pamela Cisneros, allegedly attacked Piacenti and a 68-year-old man with two large knives.

Piacenti sustained a stab wound to the abdomen and was rushed to Bellevue Hospital, where she later succumbed to her injuries. The 68-year-old man was also taken to hospital and was reported to be in stable condition.

Police said the attacker refused repeated orders to drop the knives and moved toward officers. Officers initially used a Taser in an attempt to subdue her, but when that failed, two officers opened fire, killing the woman.

Police identified the attacker as Pamela Cisneros, a Queens resident. Authorities said she had previously come to police attention in connection with mental-health-related incidents in 2018 and 2019, but had no known criminal record. The motive for the attack remains unclear.

Bank of America expressed deep sorrow over Piacenti’s death, describing her as a valued colleague who would be greatly missed. Piacenti earned her law degree from Fordham Law School in 2021.

The incident remains under investigation, while the NYPD’s Force Investigation Division is also reviewing the police shooting.