The person killed in a knife attack in New York's Times Square on Monday was 32-year-old Bank of America vice president Erin Piacenti, reports the New York Post (NYP).
As the publication clarifies, Piacenti was born in New Jersey and worked as vice president of client selection and conflict resolution. She graduated from the University of Pennsylvania in 2016 and from Fordham University School of Law in 2021. There she met her future husband Frank. According to NYP, the couple celebrated their second wedding anniversary on August 10.
As RTVI reported, on Monday a woman armed with two knives attacked passers-by and was shot by police, after which she was hospitalized. The attacker was 49-year-old Pamela Cisneros. According to NBC News, Cisneros had documented mental health problems but no criminal record.
Witnesses told police that Cisneros pulled knives from a red Target bag, approached the couple as they exited the subway on West 41st Street, brandished a bladed weapon and stabbed the 68-year-old man in the stomach.
She then walked to 42nd Street, where she stabbed Piacenti. Both victims were hospitalized in serious condition. It was not possible to save Piacenti.
According to New York Police Commissioner Jessica Tisch, officers who arrived at the scene spoke with the attacker for four minutes and asked her to drop the knives, but she refused. During a conversation with the police, the woman repeatedly threatened to kill them.
She then began to approach the police, after which they used stun guns. This did not help – then two policemen opened fire. The attacker was hospitalized with injuries and died in hospital.
Victim stabbed to death in Times Square rampage was VP at Bank of America, just celebrating 2nd wedding anniversary https://t.co/z7ixmZmKxj pic.twitter.com/oK41B5yKIz
— New York Post (@nypost) September 1, 2026
Eyewitnesses and passers-by interviewed by RTVI correspondent Evgeny Maslov noted security problems in the city.
“On a scale of 10, I feel unsafe in New York, about a 4. We are from Europe, this is not very common for us,” passers-by shared.
A Fordham University spokesperson told NBC News that “our thoughts, prayers and deepest condolences are with Frank, their families and everyone who knew and loved Erin during this difficult time.” Bank of America said it was “shocked and deeply saddened” by the “tragic death of a colleague.” As noted in the financial institution, Piacenti was a valuable member of the team.
