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Woman Stabs Two in Times Square, Kills Bank of America VP
Confirmed
In Short: A woman stabbed a Bank of America vice president and another person in Times Square, killing the vice president, before police fatally shot her. The attack, described as random and unprovoked, occurred in the bustling pedestrian thoroughfare.
Erin Piacenti, 32, a New Jersey woman who worked for Bank of America, was one of the victims. She died from her wounds after the afternoon attack on Monday in the New York City pedestrian thoroughfare, according to Reuters.
Pamela Cisneros, 49, from Queens, pulled out two knives from a shopping bag and stabbed the victims. She told officers, 'I'm not dropping anything. I would rather kill both of you.
The incident occurred in Times Square, known as the 'Crossroads of the World,' which sees from 200,000 to 250,000 pedestrians transit through it daily. Police Commissioner Jessica Tisch said the attack appeared random and unprovoked.
The shooting was captured on police body cameras, which will be released at a later date. Cisneros had a documented mental health history with the NYPD, with incidents in 2018 and 2019, but no arrests were made.
What's confirmed
- "During the encounter, she told the officers, 'I'm not dropping anything. I would rather kill both of you.' She repeated, 'I will kill you,'" said Police Commissioner Jessica Tisch on Monday.
- Police said Cisneros had a documented mental health history with the NYPD, with incidents in 2018 and 2019, but no arrests.
What's still developing
- Erin Piacenti identified as one of two victims in daytime stabbing on New York City thoroughfare.
- A Bank of America vice president has been identified as a victim in a stabbing in Times Square.
- Erin Piacenti died from her wounds after the afternoon attack on Monday in the New York City pedestrian thoroughfare, according to the Reuters news agency.
- Authorities had previously said a female attacker stabbed a 32-year-old woman and a 68-year-old man on West 42nd Street and Seventh Avenue about 4:30pm (20:30 GMT) on Monday.
- “We are shocked and deeply saddened by the tragic loss of our colleague,” Bank of America said in a statement to Reuters.
- New York Police Department Commissioner Jessica Tisch said the attack appeared random and unprovoked.
- Called the “Crossroads of the World”, Times Square sees from 200,000 to 250,000 pedestrians transit through it a day, according to its official website.
- Updated on: September 1, 2026 / 1:03 PM EDT / CBS New York The person who died after being stabbed by a woman Monday afternoon in Times Square was identified as a New Jersey woman who worked for Bank of America.