A 32-year-old Bank of America executive was killed and a 68-year-old man was seriously injured Monday afternoon after a woman armed with two knives attacked them in the middle of Times Square, in what police described as a random and unprovoked assault. The attacker was shot and killed by NYPD officers minutes later after refusing to drop her weapons.
What Happened
According to NYPD Commissioner Jessica Tisch, the attack began around 4:26 p.m. near West 42nd Street and Seventh Avenue, in the heart of Manhattan’s tourist district. The suspect, identified as 39-year-old Pamela Cisneros of Queens, was seen threatening bystanders with two knives before stabbing a 68-year-old man in the side.
She then moved north along Seventh Avenue and stabbed a second victim, 32-year-old Erin Piacenti, in the abdomen. Both attacks appeared to be entirely random, with no apparent connection between Cisneros and either victim.
Cisneros fled toward an NYPD substation located in Times Square, where officers intercepted her. Witnesses had flagged down police in the moments after the stabbings. According to Tisch, officers spent roughly four minutes attempting to get Cisneros to surrender, repeatedly ordering her to drop the knives. She refused, telling officers she would rather harm them than comply.
Officers deployed tasers twice without success. Two officers then fired their service weapons, striking Cisneros. She was pronounced dead at a hospital shortly after.
The Victims
Erin Piacenti, of Chester, New Jersey, died at a hospital a short time after the attack. She worked as an executive at Bank of America, which released a statement expressing shock and grief over her death. Her death has been mourned by her New Jersey community.
The second victim, a 68-year-old man whose identity has not been widely released, was taken to Bellevue Hospital with life-threatening injuries. He has since stabilized and was released from the hospital.
The Suspect
Police say Cisneros had a documented history of mental health incidents prior to Monday’s attack, including past encounters with law enforcement. Her father spoke to local reporters afterward, saying he was stunned by his daughter’s role in the violence. Investigators have not identified any motive connecting her to either victim, describing the stabbings as unprovoked.
Two knives were recovered from the scene, according to police.
The Response
The attack, which unfolded in broad daylight in one of the most heavily trafficked areas in the country, was captured on video by bystanders and quickly circulated on social media, showing Cisneros swinging the knives moments before officers opened fire.
The incident has renewed public attention on the intersection of untreated mental illness and public safety in New York City, echoing past high-profile cases of random violence involving individuals with documented psychiatric histories, including the 2022 killing of Michelle Go, who was pushed to her death in a Times Square subway station by a man with a history of mental illness.
As of this report, the NYPD’s investigation into the incident remains ongoing.
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