A Bank of America vice president was identified as the victim of a stabbing attack in New York’s Times Square on Monday.
Erin Piacenti, 32, was killed after a woman armed with knives, Pamela Cisneros, allegedly launched an apparently random attack.
Cisneros also stabbed a man, who survived the attack, before police shot and killed her in front of a crowd of people.
Piacenti worked as vice president of business selection and conflicts at Bank of America in Manhattan.
According to social media posts reported by the New York Post, Piacenti had celebrated her second wedding anniversary on Aug. 10, about three weeks before her death.
Piacenti graduated from the University of Pennsylvania and Fordham Law School. She had previously worked at investment bank Morgan Stanley.
Bank of America said in a statement, “We are shocked and deeply saddened by the tragic loss of our colleague.”
“She was a valued teammate who will be greatly missed. Our hearts go out to her family and all of her loved ones.”
The stabbing took place Monday afternoon in Times Square, where hundreds of tourists watched in shock and ran for safety as the incident unfolded.
Police said Cisneros, who had a history of mental health issues, stabbed Piacenti and a man in what appeared to be a random attack.
NYPD Commissioner Jessica Tisch said at a news conference that officers spoke with Cisneros for four minutes and repeatedly ordered her to drop the knives, but she refused.
“During the encounter, she told the officers: ‘I’m not dropping anything. I would rather kill both of you,’” Tisch said.
Videos from the scene showed Cisneros raising the knives and moving toward officers, who then shot her.
Tisch said police had also tried to use Tasers to stop her, but she pulled them off and continued making threats.
The shooting happened outside One Times Square, the building known for hosting the annual New Year’s Eve ball drop.
Tisch described the incident as an extremely dangerous situation in the center of Times Square, where thousands of New Yorkers, commuters, tourists, families and workers are present at any given time.
During the news conference, New York Mayor Zohran Mamdani said the city’s thoughts were with the families of both victims.
“Our thoughts, not only for those of us who are here right now, but of the entire city, are with the families of both of these victims,” Mamdani said.
He added that the families’ lives had been “shattered” by the incident and said the city would continue to support them in the days and weeks ahead.
