A Bank of America VP (vice president) was fatally stabbed and killed during a violent, apparently random attack in Times Square on Monday, in an incident that also left another man wounded and ended with police shooting the suspected attacker.
Erin Piacenti, 32, of Chester, New Jersey, died after being stabbed near 42nd Street and Seventh Avenue at about 4:30 p.m. She was taken to a hospital, where she later died from her injuries. Piacenti worked in New York City as a vice president of business selection and conflicts at Bank of America.
Bank of America said it was “shocked and deeply saddened” by the loss of Piacenti, describing her as a valued colleague and expressing sympathy to her family and loved ones. The bank said she was a valued teammate who would be greatly missed.
Random Times Square stabbing unfolds near 42nd Street
According to NYPD Commissioner Jessica Tisch, the violence began when 49-year-old Pamela Cisneros attacked a 68-year-old man after he exited the subway near West 41st Street. Cisneros was carrying a pair of kitchen knives and stabbed the man in the abdomen before continuing toward 42nd Street.
Police said Piacenti was then stabbed in the abdomen near Seventh Avenue in what officials described as an unprovoked attack. New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani said during a Monday press briefing that a woman carrying multiple knives stabbed two people in Times Square before officers intervened.
Tisch said the attacks appeared to be random and unprovoked. Officers initially used tasers in an attempt to stop Cisneros, but the devices failed to halt her advance. Police opened fire after she continued moving toward officers while armed with knives, according to officials. Cisneros was killed in the encounter.
The attack unfolded in the heart of Times Square, one of New York City’s most heavily traveled commercial and tourist areas, as officers moved to stop the knife-wielding suspect.
Piacenti had recently marked second wedding anniversary
Piacenti had built a career spanning law and finance. She graduated from the University of Pennsylvania in 2016 and later earned a degree from Fordham Law School in 2021, according to information cited by the New York Post from her LinkedIn profile.
The 32-year-old had also recently celebrated her second wedding anniversary. Social media posts cited by the Post indicated that Piacenti and her spouse marked the anniversary on August 10, just weeks before the fatal attack.
News of her death prompted a statement from Bank of America, which said she would be greatly missed by colleagues. Bloomberg News first reported Piacenti’s death following the Times Square stabbing.
The incident drew attention because police described the violence as random and unprovoked. Authorities said both victims were attacked as the assailant moved through the Times Square area before the final confrontation with officers.
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