On Monday, September 1, 2026, a 32-year-old woman was fatally stabbed in an unprovoked attack in New York City’s Times Square. The attack occurred around 4:30 p.m. near West 42nd Street and Seventh Avenue. A second victim, a 68-year-old man, was also stabbed but is reported to be in stable condition.
The deceased victim has been identified as Erin Piacenti, a 32-year-old resident of Chester, New Jersey. Ms. Piacenti was a Vice President of Business Selection and Conflicts at Bank of America.
The attacker has been identified as 49-year-old Pamela Cisneros of Queens, New York. According to the NYPD, Cisneros had a documented history of mental health concerns with the department in 2018 and 2019. She had no prior criminal history.
- The suspect first stabbed the 68-year-old male victim near West 41st Street.
- Approximately 20 seconds later, she proceeded up Seventh Avenue to West 42nd Street, where she stabbed Ms. Piacenti.
Following the stabbings, officers from the NYPD confronted the suspect. Police spoke with Cisneros for approximately four minutes and ordered her to drop her knives. She refused and threatened the officers. A Taser was deployed but was ineffective. When Cisneros advanced on the officers, two of them opened fire. She was pronounced dead at the hospital.
The NYPD has officially described the attack as “random and unprovoked.” Bank of America released a statement expressing that the company is “shocked and deeply saddened” by the loss of their colleague.
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