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Woman Killed in Times Square Stabbing, Suspect Shot Dead by Police
Confirmed
NYPD Police Commissioner Jessica Tisch speaks at a press conference after NYPD officers shot and killed a knife-wielding woman who fatally stabbed a woman and injured a man in Times Square near the area of West 42nd Street and 7th Avenue in Times Squ (Kyle Mazza/UNF News via CNP/Sipa USA / Reuters) While Pamela Cisneros had no criminal record, she had multiple police interactions involving mental health episodes, Tisch said.
A 32-year-old Bank of America vice president was killed Monday afternoon in New York City when an emotionally disturbed woman started stabbing people in the heart of Times Square, authorities said. Citing preliminary information, Tisch said the NYPD call centre received several 911 calls at approximately 16:24 local time (21:00 BST) reporting a woman armed with two knives was stabbing people along Seventh Avenue in Times Square.
Erin Piacenti, 32, was fatally stabbed in a random attack near her office building on Monday, Aug. 31 The young woman killed in a random attack in Times Square on Monday, Aug. 31, has been identified by authorities. News 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.
After receiving a 911 call shortly before 4:30 p.m. on Monday, NYPD officers found a 49-year-old woman wielding two knives in Times Square. The assailant who fatally stabbed Piacenti, identified as 49-year-old Pamela Cisneros of Queens, was later shot dead by officers when she refused to drop the two knives she was carrying and “advanced toward them,” an NYPD spokesperson tells PEOPLE.
Officers shot Pamela Cisneros, who was later pronounced dead at the hospital, the department said. The suspect continued on Seventh Avenue, which is when police tried to get her to drop her weapons, speaking to her for four minutes, the NYPD commissioner said.
Eyewitnesses quickly rushed to flag down nearby officers, said Tisch, who confronted Pamela Cisneros as she entered the heart of Times Square. "It was actually kind of scary because I go to school right here, so you know, seeing that you wouldn't think that would happen in the middle of Times Square," said Reya Patel.
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. New York Police Department (NYPD) Commissioner Jessica Tisch described the attack as "unprovoked" and said the stabbings took place 20 seconds apart.
The New York City Police Department (NYPD) identified Erin Piacenti, 32, of Chester, New Jersey, as the deceased victim. I would rather kill both of you.' She repeated, 'I will kill you,'" said Police Commissioner Jessica Tisch on Monday.
What's confirmed
- Erin Piacenti identified as one of two victims in daytime stabbing on New York City thoroughfare.
- A 32-year-old Bank of America vice president was killed Monday afternoon in New York City when an emotionally disturbed woman started stabbing people in the heart of Times Square, authorities said.
- 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.
- New York Police Department (NYPD) Commissioner Jessica Tisch described the attack as "unprovoked" and said the stabbings took place 20 seconds apart.
- Citing preliminary information, Tisch said the NYPD call centre received several 911 calls at approximately 16:24 local time (21:00 BST) reporting a woman armed with two knives was stabbing people along Seventh…
- The suspect continued on Seventh Avenue, which is when police tried to get her to drop her weapons, speaking to her for four minutes, the NYPD commissioner said.
- The assailant who fatally stabbed Piacenti, identified as 49-year-old Pamela Cisneros of Queens, was later shot dead by officers when she refused to drop the two knives she was carrying and “advanced toward them,” an…
- News 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.
What's still developing
- 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.
- Police sources said he was with his wife and had been visiting their son who lives in Brooklyn.
- "It was actually kind of scary because I go to school right here, so you know, seeing that you wouldn't think that would happen in the middle of Times Square," said Reya Patel.
- Mayor Zohran Mamdani said the shooting was captured on police body cameras, which will be released at a later date.
- The male victim was taken to Bellevue Hospital, where police said On Tuesday he is in stable condition.
- Following the two stabbings, Pamela Cisneros continued up Seventh Avenue, where she encountered police between 42nd and 43rd streets, police said.
- The responding officers fired stun guns at her, which did not appear to be effective, police said.
- Erin Piacenti, 32, was fatally stabbed in a random attack near her office building on Monday, Aug. 31 The young woman killed in a random attack in Times Square on Monday, Aug. 31, has been identified by authorities.