A Bank of America executive was fatally stabbed in Times Square on Monday, August 31, 2026, during her first week back at work after maternity leave. The attack also resulted in a second person being wounded before police fatally shot the assailant.
The victim has been identified as Erin Piacenti, 32, of Chester, New Jersey. Piacenti was a Vice President at Bank of America and had been on leave for five months caring for her newborn daughter. She had recently returned to the office when the incident occurred.
Police stated that the attack began near West 41st Street when Pamela Cisneros, 49, of Queens, approached a 68-year-old man outside a subway station. Armed with two large knives, Cisneros allegedly pulled them from a red Target bag and attacked the man, stabbing him in the abdomen. He was transported to Bellevue Hospital and is in stable condition.
Approximately 20 seconds later, Cisneros moved north on Seventh Avenue and attacked Piacenti, who was then pronounced dead at Bellevue Hospital. Police recovered two knives at the scene.
Officers encountered Cisneros while she was still holding the knives. According to NYPD Commissioner Jessica Tisch, Cisneros refused commands to drop the weapons and advanced towards officers. Police deployed Tasers, which were ineffective, and subsequently fired their weapons. Cisneros was pronounced dead at Bellevue Hospital.
Tisch described the incident as random and unprovoked. While Cisneros had documented mental health-related encounters with the NYPD in 2018 and 2019, she had no prior arrest record. Authorities have stated there is no indication the attack was related to terrorism.
Bank of America confirmed Piacenti's death in a statement, calling her a "valued teammate who will be greatly missed." Piacenti earned a law degree from Fordham University School of Law in 2021 alongside her husband. The university expressed its sorrow over the loss of its former student.
The NYPD’s Force Investigation Division is reviewing the police shooting. Mayor Zohran Mamdani announced that body-worn camera footage from the encounter will be released.